Evaluation of Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia on HbA2 Levels

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of iron deficiency anemia on HbA2 levels. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from Jan to Oct 2020. Methodology: A total of 206 subjects were included in the study out of which 56 served as healthy controls. Five milliliters of whole blood were extracted in an EDTA tube and basic haematological parameters were performed using automated hematology analyzer (Sysmex KX-21). HbA2 levels were determined by cellulose acetate hemoglobin electrophoresis at alkaline pH (Mini Hor-8). Serum Ferritin levels were measured by chemiluminescence on Cobas e411 and Serum Iron levels by spectrophotometric method using ferrozine (Cobas c501). Results: Mean hemoglobin in control group was 12.5±0.7 g/dL and in iron deficiency anemia group was 8.1±1.36 g/dL (p=0.01). Mean HbA2 level in control group was 2.69±0.24% and iron deficiency anemia group was 1.76±0.25 % (p=0.001). HbA2 levels were reduced in individuals having haemoglobin levels less than 10g/dL and remained unchanged/minimally changed with hemoglobin levels reaching near normal levels. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant association of HbA2 levels with degree of anemia and serum ferritin levels (p=0.001).