Examination of 422 studies resulted in the exclusion of 379 full-text articles based on the following criteria: 153 animal studies; 72 in vitro studies; 38 not related to malaria; 33 with only qualitative data on IL-6; 27 genetic studies; 25 reviews/systematic reviews; 12 pregnant/cord blood analysis; six with no data on IL-6 levels; six with full text unavailable; four with IL-6 measured after treatment; and three non-English articles (Fig. 1). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is malaria.