Oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in polycythemia of undetermined etiology

High oxygen affinity hemoglobinopathy, as an eventual cause for polycythemia of undetermined etiology, was investigated in 40 unclassifiable polycythemia subjects. The determination of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and P50 in the polycythemic and in the control groups has not demonstrated any sigificant difference between them. The routine search of this condition in similar patients does not seem to be warranted.