Glycosylated haemoglobin in renal failure.

The level of the glycosylated haemoglobin hbA1c was measured in (1) subjects with normal renal function, (2) patients with renal failure and (3) patients on intermittent haemodialysis. In 60 subjects with normal renal function but with a varying degree of glucose tolerance, there was a significant correlation between HbA1c and fasting blood-glucose. In 20 patients with renal failure the mean value of HbA1c was 6.6 +/- 1.3% (mean +/- SD) whereas in 17 subjects with normal renal function, but with the same degree of glucose tolerance, this value was 4.7 +/- 0.9%. In 30 patients on intermittent dialysis the mean level of HbA1c was 6.3 +/- 1.5%. This level did not fall after 3 months of dialysis with a glucose-free fluid. In both groups of patients with renal failure there was no correlation between HbA1c and fasting blood-glucose. -- It is concluded that renal failure itself causes an increase in HbA1c.