A case of the Hb Regina (beta 96 (FG3) Leu----Val) in a German male associated with high oxygen affinity and erythrocytosis.

Hb Regina was identified in a 58-year-old German male and 2 of his 3 children. All affected subjects presented moderate erythrocytosis and the whole blood exhibited increased oxygen affinity (P50:17.5 mm Hg). This hemoglobinopathy was undetectable with the conventional electrophoretic methods. It was, however, separated and quantified by cation-exchange and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Hb Regina accounted for 30-35% of the total Hb. No significant clinical symptoms were found to be related to this hemoglobinopathy. This is the first known instance in Germany, and so far the second case reported.