[The clinical importance of glycohaemoglobin (HbA1) (author's transl)].

Glycosylated haemoglobin provides an integrative measure of long-term glycaemic levels and complements conventional glucose monitoring in the management of diabetes. The present study was determined to review nomenclature, biochemistry and the analytic methods available for measurement of HbA1. Clinical studies are reported that relate HbA1 concentrations to various parameters of glucose control, diabetes type and diabetes therapy. Moreover, this review considers nondiabetic disorders that are associated with falsely abnormal HbA1 levels and in addition, the value of HbA1 in predicting complications of diabetes and in the diagnosis of subclinical diabetes is discussed.