The Development of Haemoglobin A2 in Normal Negro Infants and in Sickle Cell Disease

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Abstract
The development of haemoglobin A2 levels from birth to 3 years has been compared in normal, β‐thalassaemia trait, sickle cell (SS) disease, and S‐β‐thalassaemia genotypes. Hb A2 levels were almost identical in normals and in children with SS disease at 1, 2 and 3 years. The most rapid increases in Hb A2 levels occurred before 6 months but levels were still rising at the end of the third year. Sickle cell‐β+ thalassaemia could be differentiated from SS disease by the higher Hb A2 levels between 6 months and 1 year. Insufficient data were available on S‐β° thalassaemia but since Hb A2 levels in this condition are generally higher than those in S‐β+ thalassaemia, differentiation from SS disease may also be possible from the age of 6 months.