Work-up of Patients with Decreased Hemoglobin A2 Identified by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis: A North American Institutional Experience.

OBJECTIVE

Isolated low hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) is rarely encountered in our clinical practice using capillary zone electrophoresis. The study goal was to characterize the work-up at our institution of patients with low HbA2.

METHODS

Patients with low HbA2 and a control cohort with normal capillary zone electrophoresis were identified and relevant information extracted from the medical record.

RESULTS

Of 44 patients with isolated decreased HbA2, 28 (64%) had corresponding complete blood count/ferritin values. Compared to control patients, patients with low HbA2 were more likely to have iron deficiency and demonstrated a more microcytic, hypochromic blood picture. However, 46% (13/28) of patients with low HbA2 and ferritin for evaluation did not have iron deficiency. Only 2 patients had genetic testing.

CONCLUSION

This study redemonstrates the association between low HbA2 and iron deficiency and reinforces the need for iron indices to interpret capillary zone electrophoresis results. Our study population showed incomplete or absent iron studies in most cases.