Hemoglobin variant HbE found in two South Asian diabetic patients

Abstract

Glycohemoglobin, also known as hemoglobin (Hb) A1c, is a marker of long-term glycemic control in patients with diabetes. We present two South-Asian diabetic patients whose HbA1c peaks were not measurable using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further investigations showed that these patients were homozygous for a hemoglobin variant, HbE (β26 Glu→Lys). Because of the increasing numbers of immigrants in Japan, area-specific hemoglobinopathies are now encountered more frequently than before. Thus, if discrepant results are found on an -HbA1c assay or if the HbA1c value cannot be measured, such patients should be screened for hemoglobinopathies and alternative measurements for monitoring diabetes should be considered. © 2009 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.