WHAT IS FATE OF HEMOGLOBIN SUBFRACTIONS IN PATIENTS OF SICKLE CELL ANEMIA? HEMOGLOBIN ANALYSIS, HBA1C AND JUDGING CONTROL OF DIABETES

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) testing has been widely used by clinicians to analyse the glycaemic control. Its accurate interpretation is highly important as treatment initiation and titration is dependent on its value as it corresponds to an average estimated blood glucose level calculated from its percentage. Variations in red blood cells (RBC) life span can alter the HbA1c values. Conditions such as anaemia and haemoglobinopathies can increase the turnover of erythrocytes, lowering the measured HbA1c values. On the other hand, conditions that decrease the RBC turn over, lead to higher values of HbA1c. Thus, the method for screening and evaluating glycaemic control in subgroups of population with haemoglobinopathies needs refinement. This study aims at emphasizing the interference of common haemoglobin variants and anaemia with HBA1c levels and further diabetes monitoring.