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Influence of Thyroid Status on Hemoglobin A₂ Expression

Service d'Endocrinologie (J.-M.K., M.R., J.-P.L, H.B.), and the Institut de Pathologie Moléculaire, INSERM U 15 (J.R., R.K., D.L., J.E.) HÔpital Cochin, Paris, France

Address requests for reprints to: Jean-Marc Kuhn, Hopital Cochin, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75674 Paris Cedex 14, France.

We studied the electrophoretic pattern of hemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cell indices in 128 women divided into four groups: group I, 36 nonanemic hyperthyroid women, divided in two subgroups: 36 with untreated hyperthyroidism (subgroup IA) and 9 made euthyroid by antithyroid drug therapy (subgroup IB); group II, 12 nonanemic women with untreated hypothyroidism; group III, 30 women known to be heterozygous for β-thalassemia; and group IV, 50 healthy women.

The mean (±SEM) HbA₂ level was higher (P < 0.001) in subgroup IA (3.21 ± 0.06%) than in subgroup IB (2.42 ± 0.09%) and group IV (2.48 ± 0.04%), but lower (P < 0.001) than in group III (5.26 ± 0.12%). The mean HbA₂ level was lower (P < 0.001) in group II (1.99 ± 0.08%) than in group IV. Hb fetal was detectable in eight patients of subgroup IA and undetectable in subgroup IB and groups II and IV. The mean cellular volume was lower (P < 0.001) in subgroup IA than in other nonanemic groups. The mean cellular volume was higher (P < 0.001) in group II than in group IV. Follow-up of nine patients who became euthyroid with treatment showed the normalization of these erythrocyte parameters. These results suggest that thyroid hormones can modulate the synthesis of - and -globin chains.

Received August 18, 1982.