Haemoglobin Köln in Cape Town. A case report.

A 7-year-old patient presented with an acute haemolytic episode. Investigation showed the presence of an unstable haemoglobin (Hb), identified as Hb Köln. No other members of the family were affected. This disorder has occasionally been seen as a spontaneous mutation. This is the first report of Hb Köln in a South African family, although other unstable Hb variants have been described.