A Comparison of Hemoglobin A(2) Levels in Untreated and Treated Groups of HIV Patients on ART Including Zidovudine

Objective. To assess the level of haemoglobin A(2) in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) including zidovudine with untreated HIV patients. Material and Methods. The study was a case control study. A total of 185 patients were included in the study; the case group included 125 HIV patients who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) including zidovudine and 60 were in the control group who were not receiving ART. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was done and hemoglobin A(2) level was observed; value more than 3.5% was considered significant. The Hb A(2) percentages of HIV patients were compared with those of control using an unpaired t-test. Results. The mean of Hb A(2) in case group was 3.462% (SD 0.675) and in control group it was 2.815% (SD0.246). The higher Hb A(2) value was seen in significant number of treated patients than control group (P < 0.0001). Conclusion. The clinicians, pathologists, haematologists, and genetic counsellors should be aware of effects of nutritional anaemia and ART on Hb A(2) to reduce the chances of misdiagnosis of β-thalassaemia especially in developing countries and for centres for antenatal screening.