ArticleCureus2026
Diagnostic Limitations of Hemoglobin A1c in the Setting of Compound Hemoglobinopathy: A Case Report of Sickle Cell Disease, Alpha Thalassemia, and Occult Diabetes.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Glycemic assessment when hemoglobin A1c is unreliable: a clinical-laboratory framework for kidney disease, anemia, and hemoglobinopathies.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
This case report illustrates the diagnostic limitations of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with coexisting hemoglobinopathies. Sickle cell disease (SCD) and alpha thalassemia are inherited disorders characterized by chronic anemia and altered red blood cell turnover, both of which can significantly interfere with the accuracy of HbA1c measurements. In such cases, HbA1c may appear falsely low, potentially delaying the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus. We describe a 63-year-old female with previously undiagnosed SCD and alpha thalassemia whose longstanding hyperglycemia and diabetic complications were masked by inappropriately low HbA1c values. This report emphasizes the importance of recognizing the limitations of HbA1c in vulnerable populations and highlights the need for alternative glycemic markers, such as fructosamine, in patients with hemoglobinopathies to ensure accurate diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes mellitus.
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