A Clinical Study of Pregnancy with Hemoglobinopathies with Special Reference to Fetomaternal Outcome.

Background: In India, about 3-4% of people are carriers of beta thalassemia. Sickle cell occurs in about 1 in 100 Indians. As per WHO at least 5.2% of the world population with 7% prevalence in pregnant women carries a variant of hemoglobin disorder. HbE is the most common hemoglobinopathy in north eastern states of India, with carrier frequency of around 50% in a hospital based study27. Objective: To follow up the maternal and fetal outcome of pregnancy with hemoglobinopathies. Methodology: A prospective observational study to evaluate the maternal and fetal outcome in pregnancy with hemoglobinopathies. Results: 78% of the patients had moderate anaemia. HbE disease comprising of 44.8 % was the most common hemoglobinopathy. 53 % of the patients underwent LSCS. The most common indication being fetal distress in first stage of labour (19.56%). 43 % of the patients had associated obstetrics complications with 23 % preterm delivery, 7 % FGR pregnancy, 4.59% hyperbilirubinemia, 9.1% PROM. 26 (29.8%) of babies were born with low birth weight. 22.9% of the babies were admitted in NICU. Among the pregnant women, 19.5 % had severe anaemia which needed blood transfusion. There was one maternal death due to postpartum haemorrhage. Conclusion: HbE disease comprising of 46 % was the most common among the hemoglobinopathies. Since the incidence of hemoglobinopathy is high in our region, routine Hb typing has to be done for Hb of < 8 g/dl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]