Transfusion Hampers the Outcome of Pregnancy in Pregnant Sickle Cell Anemia Patients

Abstract BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a significant public health problem. As knowledge of the disorder increases, more people will survive to adulthood. Women with SCD are also progressing into reproductive age. The effect of pregnancy on SCD and the impact of SCD on the mother and child need to be evaluated to improve outcomes. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To obtain data on the factors that impact pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women who live with SCD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of Antenatal records of pregnant women at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria RESULTS: Fourty pregnant women were reviewed. There were 3 (7.5%) maternal deaths; pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), sickle cell crisis, and eclampsia were the most frequent complications. The majority, 21 (52.5%), had a cesarean section, 5 (12.5%) had stillbirths, and 28 (70%) received blood transfusion (BT). There was no association between BTs and the occurrence of pregnancy-related complications, maternal mortality, type of birth, or spontaneous abortions in pregnant SCD patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant link between transfusions and pregnancy complications, maternal mortality, stillbirths, or miscarriages. Interestingly, none of the patients who did not receive a transfusion experienced mortality. The study stresses the need for early prenatal treatment and multidisciplinary management for pregnant women with SCD to reduce the risk of complications and improve outcomes. The low number of subjects limits our study. A prospective clinical trial will answer many questions that cannot be cleared by retrospective analysis.