Pregnancy outcomes amongst thalassemia traits

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the pregnancy outcome between pregnancies affected and not affected by thalassemia trait.MethodsA retrospective case–control cohort study was conducted on singleton pregnant women who attended antenatal care and delivered at Songklanagarind Hospital. All of the participating thalassemia trait pregnant women were diagnosed based on hemoglobin typing and/or DNA analysis. A ratio of around 1–1 was used to compare their pregnancy outcomes with normal pregnant women.ResultsSeven hundred thirty-nine thalassemia trait and 799 normal pregnant women were included in the study. All of the women were Thai nationals living in the Southern Region of Thailand and nearly all of them had spontaneously conceived. Maternal complication rates of gestational diabetes, preterm birth, antepartum bleeding, postpartum bleeding, shoulder dystocia and puerperal morbidity, and the rates of neonatal complications: macrosomia, fetal weight <2,000 g, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth, low Apgar score (<7) at 1 and 5 min and NICU admission, were not significantly different between the two groups. The rate of pre-eclampsia, however, was significantly different, with RRs of 1.73 (CI 1.01–3.00).ConclusionThe thalassemia trait condition did not affect the risk of gestational diabetes, postpartum hemorrhage, stillbirth, preterm birth and puerperal morbidity. However, pre-eclampsia should be warranted especially among nulliparous and high-BMI pregnant women.

Outcome of Pregnancy with Hemoglobinopathy in a Tertiary Care Center

“…In the present study, the prevalence of preeclampsia was 5% while that of GDM was 1.66%. This is in agreement with the studies conducted by Yordanova et al and Hanprasertpong et al Both had concluded that the rate of these obstetric conditions in patients with hemoglobinopathies is comparable to that of the normal population [14,15]. Most of the patients in our study carried on till full-term pregnancy.…”

Anaemia among females in child-bearing age: Relative contributions, effects and interactions of α- and β-thalassaemia

“…We also found a significantly higher prevalence of premature births and low birth weight among offspring of females with α-thalassaemia trait. Although it has been shown previously that anaemia in pregnancy is associated with prematurity and low birth weight [ 5 ], reports among patients with thalassaemia trait failed to show an increased risk of both conditions in the offspring [ 23 ]. As we have not observed any higher risk of prematurity or low birth weight among β-thalassaemia trait in this study, it may be that this is a phenomenon unique to α-thalassaemia trait.…”

Effect of chorionic villus sampling on the occurrence of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Hence, they concluded that despite the purported protective effect of undergoing CVS in a thalassemic patient, CVS actually increased the risk for preeclampsia. In contrast, Hangrasertpong et al (29) reported outcomes for thalassemia traits recently and debated the pros and cons of a purported protective effect of thalassemia against preeclampsia. Their data revealed a marginally higher risk of preeclampsia in patients that carried a thalassemia trait [OR 1.73 (95% CI 1.01-3.00)] (29).…”

“…In contrast, Hangrasertpong et al (29) reported outcomes for thalassemia traits recently and debated the pros and cons of a purported protective effect of thalassemia against preeclampsia. Their data revealed a marginally higher risk of preeclampsia in patients that carried a thalassemia trait [OR 1.73 (95% CI 1.01-3.00)] (29). Another important weakness of the conclusions of Daskalakis et al (20) was the performance of multiple regression analysis that excluded information regarding nulliparity and anemia.…”