Fertility in thalassemia: The Greek experience

Pregnancy in beta-thalassemic patients has become a not unusual event, espe cially in the last 10 years. The course and outcome of 19 pregnancies in 16 thalassemic women, followed in our unit, 12 with thalassemia major and 4 w ith thalassemia intermedia, were studied. Genetic counselling was provided and counselling regarding the planning or the continuation of the pregnancy was based mainly on cardiac performance at rest, Cardiac, endocrine and li ver function were evaluated at baseline, monitored throughout pregnancy and reevaluated after delivery. Desferrioxamine treatment was discontinued as early as possible. During pregnancy the Db level was maintained at about 10 g/dl in all women by transfusion. The course of pregnancy was essentially uneventful and elective Cesarean section was performed in all cases, The me an birth weight of the newborns was 3000 g, All babies were normal except f or one with exomphalus, Pregnancy was well tolerated by the heart in all wo men and no endocrinological disorders were observed. In conclusion, pregnan cies in beta-thalassemia can be safe for both mothers and their babies with careful selection and appropriate care.