Table 5

Haemoglobin A2 percentage, red cell indices, and haemoglobin S percentage in patients with sickle cell trait with or without α thalassaemia (the four patients with iron deficiency have been excluded)

α Gene statusαα/αα (group A)−α/αα (group B)−α/−α (group C)Significance of difference
A v BB v CA v C
A, subjects with no α gene deletion; B, subjects with one α gene deletion; C, subjects with two α gene deletions.
Values are mean (SD).
HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; MC, microcolumn chromatography; MCH, mean cell haemoglobin; MCV, mean cell volume; RBC, red blood cells; SD, scanning densitometry.
Hb (g/l)125.1 (19.1)114.9 (19.6)119.5 (13.1)>0.1>0.1>0.1
RBC ×1012/l4.48 (0.67)4.45 (0.61)5.54 (0.67)>0.1<0.001<0.001
MCV (fl)84.88 (8.26)79.08 (5.80)67.77 (5.81)<0.001<0.001<0.001
MCH (pg)28.05 (5.49)25.79 (2.10)21., 65 (1.84)<0.001<0.001<0.001
Hb S % by MC37.24 (3.14)32.61 (2.33)25.53 (2.08)<0.001<0.001<0.001
Hb S % by HPLC37.13 (2.51)32.61 (1.91)25.52 (1.44)<0.001<0.001<0.001
Hb A2 % by MC3.23 (0.31)3.41 (0.43)3.54 (0.45)>0.1>0.1<0.01
Hb A2 % by SD3.44 (0.62)3.78 (0.7)3.85 (0.72)>0.1>0.1<0.01
Hb A2 % by HPLC4.33 (0.37)4.41 (0.35)4.49 (0.76)>0.1>0.1>0.1