Sickle-cell disease in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

17 patients with sickle-cell disease were followed through pregnancy. 9 of them had sickle-cell anaemia, 7 had sickle-cell/haemoglobin-C disease, and one had an unusual form of sickle-cell thalassaemia. The maternal and foetal hazards are discussed, and seem to be considerably less serious than in most other reports. Complications were more frequent in the puerperium. 5 out of 7 cases of sickle-cell/haemoglobin-C disease had no complications at any time. The birth-weight of the infants in this series was very much below average. The incidence of sickle-cell disease amongst pregnant women in Jamaica seems to be very similar to the incidence in the general population (Summary)