HB Kurosaki [α7(A5)LYS→GLU]: A New α Chain Variant Found in a Japanese Woman

Abstract

There are many abnormal hemoglobins (Hbs) which have been discovered during the assay of glycosylated Hb (Hb A_1c) of the peripheral blood by use of a cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. We have encountered a patient whose peripheral blood showed the presence of an abnormal Hb peak on an HPL chromatogram. Structural analysis demonstrated that the Hb had an amino acid substitution of Lys→Glu at the 7th position of the α chain. This variant has not been reported before (1). We have named it Hb Kurosaki or α7(A5)Lys→Glu after the name of the city where the patient lived.