title: The reproduction in women affected by cooley disease.
abstract: The health background management and outcomes of 5 pregnancies in 4 women affected by Cooley Disease, from Paediatric Institute of Catania University, are described, considering the preconceptual guidances and cares for such patients. These patients were selected among a group of 100 thalassemic women divided into three subgroups, according to their first and successive menstruation characteristics: i) patients with primitive amenorrhoea, ii) patients with secondary amenorrhoea and iii) patients with normal menstruation. Only one woman, affected by primitive amenorrhoea, needed the induction of ovulation. A precise and detailed pre-pregnancy assessment was effected before each conception. This was constituted by a series of essays, including checks for diabetes and hypothyroidism, for B and C hepatitis and for blood group antibodies. Moreover were evaluated: cardiac function, rubella immunity and transaminases. Other pregnancy monitoring, and cares during labour and delivery were effected according to usual obstetrics practice.All the women were in labour when she were 38 week pregnant, and the outcome were five healthy babies born at term, weighting between 2600 and 3200gs. The only complication was the Caesarean section. The improvements of current treatments, especially in the management of iron deposits, the prolongation of survival rate, will result in a continuous increase of pregnancies in thalassemic women. Pregnancy is now a real possibility for women affected by such disease. We are furthermore studying the possibility to collect the fetus' umbilical cord blood, after the delivery, to attempt eterologus transplantation to his mother trying to get a complete marrow reconstitution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Catania, Italy;
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pafumi
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leanza
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coco
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vizzini
authors.forename: Lilliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciotta
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leanza
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zarbo
authors.forename: Alfio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Agati
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iemmola
authors.forename: Ferdinando Antonio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Teodoro
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attard
authors.forename: Alina Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Plesca
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kouloubis
authors.forename: Mayada
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chammas