Does alpha thalassemia affect pregnancy?

When the baby has alpha thalassemia major, there are also risks for the pregnant woman. A woman carrying a baby with alpha thalassemia disease has a higher chance for developing pre-eclampsia or “toxemia” (protein in the urine, high blood pressure, swollen ankles and feet).

Is thalassemia safe during pregnancy?

Doctors consider pregnancies with beta thalassemia to be “high risk” because the disease raises the chances of health problems for a pregnant woman and their baby. Some challenges you could face: Heart problems. When you’re pregnant, your body makes a lot more blood to meet your baby’s needs.

Can 2 people with thalassemia have a baby?

If two people who are carriers of the same type of thalassaemia have children, their children have a: 25 per cent risk of developing thalassaemia major because they inherited the thalassaemia gene from both parents.

How does thalassemia minor affect pregnancy?

During pregnancy, women with thalassemia minor will often show more significant anemia, which is often most prominent during the latter half of the second trimester and early third trimester (4-7).

How is alpha thalassemia treated in pregnancy?

Intrauterine Transfusion (IUT) for Fetuses with ATM The goal of this treatment is to provide the fetus with functional red blood cells that can successfully deliver oxygen. Fetuses can be treated with intrauterine transfusions throughout pregnancy starting at an early gestational age (18-25 weeks).

Who gets alpha thalassemia?

Alpha thalassemia happens when one or more of the genes that control the making of alpha globins is absent or defective. It can cause anemia ranging from mild to severe and is most commonly found in people of African, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Southeast Asian, and, occasionally, Mediterranean descent.

Can thalassemia cause birth defects?

It also can cause birth defects or other health condition. Parents can pass gene the gene change for thalassemia to their children. If you have thalassemia or a family history of thalassemia, talk to a genetic counselor.

How is thalassemia treated in pregnancy?

What should I eat if I have alpha thalassemia?

Nutrition & Thalassemia It is recommended that patients going through blood transfusion should opt for a low iron diet. Avoiding iron-fortified foods like cereal, red meat, green leafy vegetables & Vitamin C-rich foods is the best option for thalassemic patients.

What is thalassemia minor in pregnancy?

KEY POINTS. Thalassemia is a blood condition that can cause health problems for your baby. It’s passed from parents to children through changes in genes. You and your partner can have carrier screening before or during pregnancy to find out if you have the gene change that causes thalassemia.

Does thalassemia cause miscarriage?

Miscarriage occurs mostly in cases of thalassemia homozygous fetuses or those with severe IUGR.

How is alpha thalassemia treated?

Treatment may include:

1. Daily doses of folic acid.
2. Blood transfusions (as needed)
3. Surgery to remove your spleen.
4. Medicines to reduce extra iron from your body (called iron chelation therapy)
5. Avoidance of certain oxidant drugs in hemoglobin H disease.

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