title: Beta-thalassemia major and successful pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a study of maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major.
  
  
  METHODS
  The course and outcome of pregnancy were studied prospectively in 32 pregnant women with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major, of which 10 were HIV 1 positive, at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, Manipur, India, from January 1990 to July 1996.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a period of six years, 32 women with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major conceived. Twenty conceptions were spontaneous (63%), and 12 (37%) followed induction of ovulation. There were 24 (75%) singleton vaginal deliveries, all of which were term. At term, eight (25%) women delivered by elective cesarean section due to cephalopelvic disproportion. All the women remained well throughout pregnancy. Despite increased blood transfusion requirements during pregnancy to maintain the hemoglobin level > 10 g/dL, serum ferritin levels remained stable in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Successful outcomes of pregnancy occurred in some women with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khuranna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017086:beta-Thalassemia