Glycosylated haemoglobin and relative polycythaemia in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Sixty-five diabetic patients had a total red cell count significantly greater than 65 age and sex matched non-diabetics; (4.93±0.06×106 and 4.50 ±0.05×106 red cells/ul respectively; p<0.005). In 110 diabetic patients, total red cell count was positively correlated with the proportion of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) (r=0.32, p<0.001). The correlation was maintained in 60 of these patients with a mean blood glucose <15 mmol/l (r=0.33, p <0.05), and in 49 non-smoking diabetic patients (r =0.30, p=0.05). It is proposed that the greater proportion of higher oxygen-affinity HbA1 in comparatively uncontrolled diabetics may be inducing sufficient tissue hypoxia to cause the demonstrated relative polycythaemia. © 1980 Springer-Verlag.