Effect of Acute Blood Loss on Glycosylated Hemoglobin Determinations in Normal Subjects Free

Nondiabetic adult subjects (N = 12) were studied to determine the effect of an approximately 450-ml acute blood loss upon glycosylated hemoglobin measurements. After blood loss, the hematocrit significantly decreased by week 1 (P < 0.001) and the reticulocyte count peaked by week 2. All glycosylated hemoglobins measured showed significant decreases post blood loss. The nadir was at week 4 for total A₁, A_1c, and irreversible A_1c by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and at week 6 for irreversible A₁ by HPLC and A₁ by electrophoresis. The mean percent decrease in glycosylated hemoglobins ranged from 4.6% (irreversible A₁ by HPLC) to 8.6% (total A_1c by HPLC).