Hemoglobinopathies and glycated hemoglobin : influence in non- diabetic and diabetic patients

Abstract EN

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hemoglobinophies (HbPs) on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, both in diabetic patients and non-diabetics.

It included 82 subjects with normal Hb (HbA), 23 diabetics and 59 non–diabetics and 69 patients with HbPs, 8 diabetics and 61 non-diabetics.

Identification of Hb variants and HbA1c determination were performed by ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

In both HbA subjects and those with HbPs, diabetics have significantly higher HbA1c levels compared to non-diabetics (P < 0.001).

In diabetics, patients with HbPs have higher HbA1c levels compared to HbA patients, however, the difference was statistically not significant (P > 0.05).

Among non- diabetics, no significant differences noted in HbA1c levels between patients with HbPs and those with HbA (P > 0.05).

In addition, no significant differences observed in Hb A1c values among HbP types, and also, between each one and non- diabetics with HbA (P > 0.05).

It is concluded that the effect of HbPs on HbA1c level among non-diabetics was negligible.

However, in diabetics with abnormal Hb variants, a spuriously high Hb A1c values may be misinterpreted resulting in mismanagement of diabetes.