A comparison of hemoglobin [A.sub.2] levels in untreated and treated groups of HIV patients on art including zidovudine

Objective. To assess the level of haemoglobin [A.sub.2] in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) including zidovudine with untreated HIV patients. Material and Methods. The study was a case control study. A total of 185 patients were included in the study; the case group included 125 HIV patients who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) including zidovudine and 60 were in the control group who were not receiving ART The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was done and hemoglobin [A.sub.2] level was observed; value more than 3.5% was considered significant. The Hb [A.sub.2] percentages of HIV patients were compared with those of control using an unpaired t-test. Results. The mean of Hb [A.sub.2] in case group was 3.462% (SD 0.675) and in control group it was 2.815% (SD0.246). The higher Hb [A.sub.2] value was seen in significant number of treated patients than control group (P < 0.0001). Conclusion. The clinicians, pathologists, haematologists, and genetic counsellors should be aware of effects of nutritional anaemia and ART on Hb [A.sub.2] to reduce the chances of misdiagnosis of [beta]-thalassaemia especially in developing countries and for centres for antenatal screening.