Increased Hb A2 values in an HIV-1-infected patient receiving antiretroviral drugs: a pitfall for thalassemia antenatal diagnosis.

We report a human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-infected couple, where the woman in the 11th week of gestation, carried a Hb E trait. She and her spouse were referred to the hemoglobinopathy counselors. Her spouse's blood was subsequently tested and showed an increased Hb A(2) value. However, his red cell indices and osmotic fragility test were different from those found in beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) carriers. The beta-thal genes were investigated further and no mutations were observed. Therefore, it is unlikely that he is a beta-thal carrier and the increased Hb A(2) value is a result of receiving antiretroviral drugs. As antenatal thalassemia screening becomes more widespread, measuring the Hb A(2) values should be taken in all HIV-1-infected couples before the initiation of antiretroviral drugs to rule out misdiagnosis of beta-thal. However, if these tests are not available, the results of the red cell indices and osmotic fragility test should be considered as they may provide great value for beta-thal investigations.