Beta-Thalassemia major and pregnancy

Objective: It was studied the clinical management and the medical outcomes of 6 pregnancies in 5 women affected by Beta Thalassemia major, based on last guidelines and pharmacological treatments. Background: Paediatric Department and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Catania. Methods: These patients were taken among a group of 116 women affected by beta-thalassemia major divided into three subgroups, according to the characteristics of their menstrual cycle: 1) women with primitive amenorrhoea, 2) women with secondary amenorrhoea and 3) women with normal menstruation. Only one woman, affected by primitive amenorrhoea, needed the induction of ovulation. An accurate and detailed pre-pregnancy assessment was effected before each conception. This was constituted by a series of essays, including checks for diabetes and hypothyroidism, for B and C hepatitis and for blood group antibodies. Moreover were evaluated: cardiac function, rubella immunity and transaminases. Other pregnancy monitoring, and cares during labour and delivery were effected according to usual obstetrics practice. Results: All the women were in labour when they were 38 week pregnant, and the outcome were six healthy babies born at term. There were no complications related to the pregnancy and to the immediate outcome after delivery. Conclusions: The improvements of current treatments, especially in the management of iron deposits, the prolongation of survival rate, will result in a continuous increase of pregnancies in thalassemic women. Pregnancy is now a real possibility for women affected by such disease. Although numerous complications can occur, vigilant monitoring by both experienced obstetricians and hematologists can lead to successful pregnancy outcomes (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 16).