The effects of maternal sickle cell hemoglobinopathies and sickle cell trait on reproductive performance

Multivariate Study of Birth Weight and Maternal Heterozygosity for Sickle Cell Anemia in Bahia, Brazil

“…The mean birth weights of children from mothers with sickle cell trait and controls showed no difference. Similar results are reported by Pritchard et al [1973] using matched controls for same clinic, race and gravidi ty. Unfortunately, the present sample was too small to allow subgroup investigation for interaction between cigarette smoking and sickle cell trait.…”

“…Brown et al, [1972] reported lower birth weight in children of sickle cell trait mothers and explained the findings by decreased oxy genation of the growing fetus. However, Pritchard et al [1973] observed no effect of maternal sickle cell trait on decreasing birth weight when HbAS and HbAA mo thers were compared.…”

“…1976;Little, 1977; Pirani and MacGillivray, 1978; Grundy el al., 1978;Harrison et al, 1980; Tennesand Blackard. 1980], The effect of maternal sickle cell anem ia on decreasing birth weight is well dem onstrated [Pritchard et al, 1973;Serjeant. 1974] but the effect of maternal heterozy gosity for sickle cell anemia (HbAS) on birth weight is not so clear.…”

Chronic Transfusion Programmes in Sickle Cell Disease: Problem or Panacea?

“…The high maternal and fetal morbidity of early reports (Fort et al, 1971;Pritchard et al, 1973) appeared to justify the use of prophylactic transfusions, which, although not in a controlled study, was associated with a better outcome when compared to historic controls (Ricks, 1968). However, many other aspects of management in pregnancy also improved over that period, confounding conclusions based on historic controls.…”

Sickle cell disease

“…31 Pain crises increase in intensity and frequency during both the second and third trimesters if transfusions have not been given. Placental infarcts are likely as a result of high oxygen extraction in the placenta.…”