BETA-N-TERMINAL GLYCOHEMOGLOBINS IN SUBJECTS WITH COMMON HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES - RELATION WITH FRUCTOSAMINE AND MEAN ERYTHROCYTE AGE

Amounts of beta-N-terminal glycohemoglobins (HbX1c), serum fructosamin e, and erythrocyte polyamines were determined in nondiabetic adults wi th HbAA, HbAC, HbAS, HbCC, HbSC, HbSS, and HbS/hereditary persistent H bF (HPFH). The groups did not differ in fructosamine concentrations. M ean (95% confidence limits) HbX1c percentages were: 4.4 (4.1-4.8) for HbA1c in HbAA, 4.3 (3.9-4.8) for HbA1c in HbAC, 4.1 (3.6-4.6) for HbC1 c in HbAC, 4.4 (4.0-4.7) for HbA1c in HbAS, 2.6 (range: 2.3-3.8) for H bC1c in HbCC, 2.0 (1.5-2.4) for HbS1c in HbSC, 0.9 (0.6-1.3) for HbS1c in HbSS, and 1.3 (range: 0.8-2.4) for HbS1c in HbS/HPFH. There was a nonlinear inverse relation between HbX1c and erythrocyte polyamines, i ndicating that HbX1c percentage decreases with decreasing mean erythro cyte age. We conclude that amounts of HbX1c in subjects with heterozyg ous hemoglobinopathies should be expressed as a percentage of HbX0 + H bX1c, not total hemoglobin. Interpretation of HbX1c in subjects with a decreased erythrocyte half-life is difficult; measurement of fructosa mine seems a suitable alternative.