TRANSFUSION-DEPENDENT HOMOZYGOUS BETA-THALASSEMIA MAJOR - SUCCESSFUL TWIN PREGNANCY FOLLOWING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND TUBAL EMBRYO-TRANSFER

Homozygous beta-thalassaemia (thalassaemia major) is a severe, transfu sion-dependent anaemia that also causes infertility due to endocrine i mpairment. Very few pregnancies are reported among such patients and t here is only one report in the literature referring to a pregnancy ach ieved with ovulation induction and intra-uterine insemination. We repo rt here the first successful twin pregnancy following in-vitro fertili zation and tubal embryo transfer in a transfusion-dependent homozygous beta-thalassaemic woman with an oligoasthenoozoospermic partner. Prio r to ovarian stimulation, desferrioxamine was discontinued due to pote ntial fetotoxicity. Pre-gestational transfusional and chelating therap ies were resumed after delivery. In such patients, ovulation induction and assisted reproductive techniques appear crucial in achieving preg nancy with concurrent haematological balance without desferrioxamine a dministration.