In the year before diagnosis 70.8% (594/839) of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma had at least one of the six examined inflammatory marker tests (CRP, ESR, PV, platelets, ferritin, or albumin) compared with 16.2% (816/5035) of controls (P<0.001) and tested patients had 14-fold greater odds of Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis compared with controls (odds ratio 13.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.4 to 16.5, P<0.001). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is Hodgkins lymphoma.