Carpani G, Bozzetti P, Cetin I, Tel A, Moroni G A
Transfusion Unit, Ospedale San Paolo, University of Milan, Italy.
J Matern Fetal Med. 1996 Jan-Feb;5(1):28-30. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1520-6661(199601/02)5:1<28::AID-MFM6>3.0.CO;2-V.
A 31-year-old pregnant woman at 20 weeks' gestation was sent to our hospital for fever, anemia, and arthralgias. As she was known to be a double heterozygote for beta-thalassemia and hemoglobin S, a diagnosis of hemolytic anemia caused by sickled red cells vasocclusive crises was made. The patient was submitted to partial exchange transfusion (PET) with a complete recovery. A second PET was performed at 36 weeks' gestation, and elective cesarean section was performed at 37 weeks, with the birth of a normal female neonate.