Pregnancy outcomes among Palestinian refugee women with sickle cell trait in Damascus, Syria

OBJECTIVE: The results on pregnancy outcomes of mothers afflicted with sickle cell trait are still contradictory. This study aimed to examine the fetal and maternal outcomes among a cohort of pregnant women.

METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that examined the fetal and maternal outcomes among 98 women with sickle cell trait (HbAS) and 402 women with normal hemoglobin (HbAA). The study was carried out in 4 health centers serving Palestinian Refugees in Damascus, during the period November 2000 to May 2002. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was carried out for all newly registered pregnancy women. Women were then followed up until 40 days after delivery. Data was collected from antenatal records and interviews with women.

RESULTS: Outcomes of pregnancy were compared between women with HbAS and HbAA hemoglobin. There was no statistical difference in the rate of abortion, distribution of birth weight and perinatal mortality. Women with AS hemoglobin reported higher incidence of complications after delivery, namely, fever (risks ratio=4.05, 95% confidence interval=1.34-12.3).

CONCLUSION: In this study, pregnancies among women with sickle cell trait demonstrated high risk of complications after delivery. Watchful follow up of pregnancies among women with sickle cell trait is very necessary. Doctors and women must know that although the course of pregnancy among women with HbAS can be benign; it may well carry a high risk on women.