title: In utero exchange transfusion in homozygous alpha-thalassaemia: a case report.
abstract: We report a case of homozygous alpha-thalassaemia with hydrops fetalis presenting at 22 weeks of gestation. In utero exchange transfusion was performed with maternal blood at 23 weeks. 25 weeks and 29 weeks of gestation. The fetus was delivered at 29 weeks of gestation without significant neonatal complication. Post-transfusion haemoglobin pattern after transfusion suggested that a total haematocrit of 0.52 may be the desired post-exchange transfusion haematocrit to aim for and the total haematocrit of haemoglobin A and haemoglobin Portland dropped approximately one percent per day.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. fungty@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*