title: Pregnancy in sickle cell disease in the UK.
abstract: The complications and outcome of 125 pregnancies in women with sickle cell disease between 1975 and 1981 are reviewed. There were no maternal deaths, but a perinatal mortality rate of 48 per 1000. The main maternal complications were sickling crises (38%), anaemia (65%), infections (61%) and severe pregnancy-induced hypertensive disease (5%). There were three patients with eclampsia. There was a 13% spontaneous preterm delivery rate, 25% of the babies were 'light-for-dates', fetal distress in labour was seen in 24% and 15% were delivered by caesarean section. There was an increased incidence of involuntary infertility and spontaneous abortion. The treatment by prophylactic blood transfusions is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic