Abstract

Universal antenatal haemoglobinopathy screening in this hospital has identified several women with increased haemoglobin A₂ values, but without hypochromic microcytic red cell indices. This report describes two cases where there is evidence that the raised haemoglobin A₂ value is not caused by heterozygous β thalassaemia, but rather results from these patients being human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and on antiretroviral therapy. This will have important implications as universal antenatal haemoglobinopathy screening becomes more widespread, and as the number of HIV positive women of childbearing age increases.