title: Fetal red blood cell hematology at mid-pregnancy among fetuses at risk of homozygous β-thalassemia disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare red blood cell hematology among fetuses at risk of homozygous β-thalassemia disease at mid-pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six fetuses, 18 to 22 gestational weeks, at risk of homozygous β-thalassemia disease undergoing cordocentesis between December 2010 and June 2012 were recruited in the study. Red blood cell parameters were measured and final diagnosis of thalassemia status was based on fetal hemoglobin typing by high performance liquid chromatography technique and DNA analysis. The fetuses were categorized into 3 groups as normal β-globin genotype, β-thalassemia trait, and homozygous β-thalassemia disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean maternal age and mean gestational age were 26.56±6.36 and 19.12±1.06 weeks, respectively. The prevalence of fetuses with homozygous β-thalassemia disease, β-thalassemia trait, and normal β-globin genotype fetuses were 29.07% (25 cases), 20.93% (18 cases), and 50% (43 cases), respectively. All of red blood cell parameters were not significantly different among the 3 groups of fetuses. No affected fetus had anemia during mid-pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant difference in red blood cell parameters among unaffected and affected fetuses with homozygous β-thalassemia disease was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kasemsri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srisupundit
authors.forename: Chanane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanapirak
authors.forename: Supatra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirichotiyakul
authors.forename: Fuanglada
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tongprasert
authors.forename: Suchaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luewan
authors.forename: Kuntharee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Traisrisilp
authors.forename: Theera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tongsong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017218:Cordocentesis; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin