Prenatal diagnosis for sickle cell disease. A survey of the United States and Canada.

Prenatal diagnoses for sickle cell disease in the United States and Canada numbered at least 1065 through the end of 1987. The 272 prenatal diagnoses in the United States in 1987 constituted only about 4.1% of the estimated pregnancies at risk. The termination rate for diagnosed fetuses was 39% for sickle cell anemia and 23% for hemoglobin SC disease. Prenatal hemoglobinopathy screening programs should not be judged solely on the number of terminations for affected fetuses. Other benefits are reassurance for couples shown to have an unaffected fetus and, for couples shown to have an affected fetus, preparation for the birth of a child requiring special care and information relevant to future childbearing.