BACKGROUND: Soluble forms of progenitor cell receptors may be implicated in the delayed erythropoietic response during severe anemia. In this study, plasma levels of soluble erythropoietin receptor (sEPO-R) and soluble granulocyte, macrophage-colony stimulating factor receptor (sGM-CSFR) were assessed in METHODS: This case-control study was conducted at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. One hundred and twenty RESULTS: Plasma levels of sEPO-R were higher among participants with severe malarial anemia (SMA) than those in the non-SMA and control groups (