Effects of -Thalassemia on HbA(1c) Measurement

Background-Thalassemia is a benign condition that is often present in patients with diabetes mellitus. Here, we evaluated the effects of different genotypes -thalassemia on HbA(1c) measurement. MethodsA total of 189 samples from nondiabetic patients were analyzed. HbA(1c) analysis was performed by ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, boronate affinity HPLC, immunoassay, and capillary electrophoresis. Fasting glucose, fructosamin, and HbA(2) were also performed. All samples were confirmed by genotyping for thalassemia. ResultsIn patients with two or three functional -genes, HbA(1c) values were not significantly different from those of controls (P > 0.05); however, in individuals with -thalassemia with one functional -gene (i.e., HbH disease), HbA(1c) levels were significantly different from those of controls (P < 0.01). HbA(1c) values were significantly lower in individuals with HbH disease than in control individuals and patients in the other two -thalassemia groups. For patients with HbH disease, there were no significant differences in the four HbA(1c) measurement systems (P > 0.05). ConclusionsIn this study, HbA(1c) values in samples from individuals with two or three functional -genes basically reflected the normal mean blood glucose level, while those in samples from individuals with one functional -gene did not.SCI(E)PubMedARTICLE1120303921@qq.com61078-10803