A diabetic with high haemoglobin A1c due to persistent haemoglobin F

Laboratory and patient-related factors can result in false glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements. Haemoglobin (Hb) variants that interfere with laboratory readings is an important cause. We report a case of hereditary persistence of Fetal Haemoglobin manifesting as a falsely high HbA1c in a 35-year old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, whose high HbA1c values persisted despite intensive anti-diabetic treatment. His fasting and postprandial blood glucose values as well as serum fructosamine level was incongruously low compared to HbA1c values. The presence of fetal haemoglobin was confirmed by haemoglobin electrophoresis. This case highlights the importance of being aware of the factors that can influence laboratory HbA1c measurements.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sjdem.v1i1.4192  

Sri Lanka Journal of Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism 2011; 1: 45-47