A new case of hemoglobin Providence (alpha 2 beta 2 82 (EF6) Lys----Asn or Asp) discovered in a French Caucasian family. Structural and functional studies.

A new case of Hb Providence was discovered in a French caucasian family presenting a mild polycythemia. Structural and functional studies of the two abnormal fractions (Hb Providence Asn and Asp) have been performed. These confirm the abnormal characteristics of Hb Providence described previously. Red cells containing Hb Providence were fractionated with a Percoll Albumin density gradient. The respective amounts of the two components were determined in the youngest and oldest cells. We observed a slight increase of Hb Providence Asp from 34 to 37% during the life span of the erythrocytes which confirms that the deamidation of Hb Providence Asn to Hb Providence Asp is a fast process, already present and close to its maximum, in the reticulocytes. Both abnormal components are stable in the presence of isopropanol.

[Familial polycythemia caused by high oxygen affinity hemoglobin. 2nd world case of hemoglobin J Providence]. / Polyglobulie familiale par hémoglobine hyperaffine pour l'oxygène. Deuxième cas mondial d'hémoglobine J Providence.

The cas observed in Auvergne and reported here raises the aetiological problem of polycythaemias. Young subjects with polycythaemia should be investigated for congenital anomaly of oxygen transport by measuring P50 and 2,3-DPG, which provides information on the oxygen-carrying capacity of haemoglobin. When confronted with familial polycythaemia due to high oxygen affinity haemoglobin, clinicians must know that a cause-effect relationship is not always demonstrable since other factors, such as tobacco-smoking in this particular case, may intervene.