Effect of haematological alterations on thalassaemia investigation in HIV-1-infected Thai patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of haematological alterations resulting from antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the diagnosis of thalassaemia carriers in HIV-1-infected Thai patients.

Methods: Complete blood cell counts, osmotic fragility (OF) test and haemoglobin (Hb)-A(2) values were measured in blood samples of 52 antiretroviral-treated and 14 untreated HIV-1-infected patients. Data were analysed according to thalassaemia type and ART.