Relationship between Hb and HbA2 concentrations in healthy and iron deficient subjects.

In 23 healthy subjects and in 115 patients with various degrees of chronic iron deficiency anaemia without congenital abnormalities of globin synthesis, Hb ranged from 3.4 to 16.3 g/100 ml. HbA2 ranged from 0.0550 to 0.5250 g/100 ml. Hb and HbA2 were statistically correlated, as shown by linear regression analysis (a equals --0.1387; b equals 0.0372; r equals 0.8198; P smaller than 0.001). The second degree parabola was not statistically different, but it gave a biologically preferable Figure for intercept (a equals --0.0006; b equals 0.0070; c equals 0.0015; r equals 0.8324; P smaller than 0.001). The second degree parabola was to be preferred also on the basis of previous literature results. Shortness of iron seems to reduce more the HbA2 than the Hb levels.