“Prevalence of Beta-Thalassemia Trait in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic”

Abstract

INTRODUCTION- Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia syndromes,especially beta thalassemia trait (BTT),are the two most commonly ccuring microcytic hypochromic anemias highly prevalent in countries like India. Iron deficiency anemia is the first most common cause of anemia in pregnancy,beta thalassemia trait is the second most frequent cause of anemia of pregnancy. Patients with thalassemia trait shows an increased incidence of anemia during the second trimester of pregnancy. Beta Thalassemia Trait (BTT) patients are usually asymptomatic and ignorant of their carrier state unless diagnosed by testing. Screening for thalassemia can be done by measuring HbA2 levels MATERIAL AND METHOD- This is a retrospective study. The data were collected from a clinic and associated st pathology in Shivpuri and a private maternity hospital in Gwalior from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2021.94 patients were included in the study.All pregnant women between the age of 18-45 years and at any gestational age with hemoglobin level <10g/dL and microcytic hypochromic anemia (report of CBC) were included in the study. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and serum ferritin report were collected. RESULTS- In our study the most common age group in which the anemia was found between 19-35 years (80.85%).Most of the patients were primigravida (44.68%),between 26-37 wks of gestational age (82.97%),from a rural area (70.21%). Only 2 patients had a family history (2.12%) of beta-thalassemia and 6 patients had a history (6.38%) of blood transfusion. In our study moderate anemia was found in 55.31% of cases followed by mild anemia 25.53% and severe anemia 19.14%. In our study iron deficiency anemia was found in 87.23% only minor Beta-thalassemia was found to be 4.25%, of the patient,and the coexistence of iron deficiency anemia and beta-thalassemia in pregnant women is 8.51%. In our study total of 12 patients (4 cases of only minor beta-thalassemia and 8 cases of minor beta-thalassemia associated with IDA) The prevalence rate of beta-thalassemia in our study was 7.8%. CONCLUSION- the recommendation is to diagnose beta-thalassemia in pregnant patients is essential to give proper treatment.The screening of pregnant patients prevents unnecessary parental iron therapy and iron overload in case of anemia.further studies are needed in this field and less expensive and accurate methods should come in place.