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Fetal hemoglobin in diabetic patients
L K Koskinen1, J T Lahtela, T A Koivula
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
Diabetes Care
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) occurs in 7.5% of diabetic patients, significantly more than in controls. This finding is linked to type 1 diabetes and insulin therapy, not other health conditions.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Hematology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder with various complications.
- Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels can vary and may be influenced by certain physiological and pathological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in a diabetic population.
- To identify potential clinical correlations associated with increased HbF levels in diabetic patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1,104 diabetic patients and 258 non-diabetic controls.
- High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure HbA1c and HbF levels.
- Clinical data and correlations were analyzed for adult participants (>= 15 years).
Main Results:
- Elevated HbF (>1.0%) was found in 7.5% of all diabetic patients, compared to 1.9% in controls (P < 0.01).
- In adult diabetics, 6.5% had elevated HbF, with higher rates (10.2%) in insulin-treated patients versus 3.8% in non-insulin-treated patients.
- Elevated HbF was associated with younger age (P < 0.02), insulin therapy (P < 0.001), and Type I diabetes (P < 0.001), but not with glycemic control or diabetes duration.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of diabetic patients exhibit elevated HbF levels, occurring 3.4 times more frequently than in the general population.
- The elevated HbF in diabetics is not explained by acute hematological conditions or malignancies.
- Increased HbF in diabetic patients appears to be associated with Type I diabetes and the use of insulin treatment.