PREGNANCY HEMATOLOG?CAL OUTCOMES ?N WOMEN W?TH HETEROZYGOUS ?-THALASSEM?A

*Gülüzar Özbolat and Abdullah Tuli

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the RBC indices and HbF and HbA2 levels of before and during pregnancy periods of heterozygous -thalassemia patients. Methods: The study was designed retrospectively among the 60 heterozygous individuals with heterozygous -thalassemia. In this study before and during pregnancy periods hematological outcomes of patients have been systematically documented. Results: The RBC indices were in non-pregnant group; Mean (min-max): RBC 4.98 mil/mm3 (3.81-5.80), Hb 11.76 g/dL (9-14.20), Hct 35.39% (30,20- 41) and HbF % 0.7, (0.3-1.4) and HbA2 % 4.28 (2.7- 4.7) pregnant group; RBC 3.93 mil/mm3 (2,34-5.23), Hb 10.31 g/dL (7,70-12.30), Hct 31.83 % (22,90- 37,60) and HbF % 2.37 (0.4-4.9), HbA2 % 4.87 (2.8- 4.9) . The 30 heterozygous individuals with β-thalassemia of the non-pregnant group consisting of RBC, Hb and Hct levels were higher than the values in pregnant group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P <0.05). The pregnancy related changes in HbF and HbA2 levels values have been observed in 30 pregnancies in 60 women with heterozygous β-thalassemia patients. Statistically significant increases in pregnancy period were observed. HbA2 level is elevated in pregnant women. Conclusion: Also, according to the results obtained in this study; pregnancy is a preanalytical variable on individuals with hemoglobinopathies for RBC, Hb, Hct, HbF and HbA2 levels. For this reason; the decreasing values of RBC, Hb and Hct depends to pregnancy may cause to interpret of heterozygous individuals as homozygous.

Keywords: ?-Thalassemia, RBC indices, pregnancy, preanalytical variable, Fetal hemoglobin.