Pregnancy and Childbirth in Women with Thalassemia Yesterday and Today

Pregnancy and Childbirth in Women with Thalassemia Yesterday and Today: a Multicentre Observational Study

Recent advances in the management of thalassemia have significantly improved life expectancy and quality of life of patients with this hemoglobinopathy, with a consequent increase in their reproductive potential and desire to have children.Since an initial report of a successful pregnancy in a woman with thalassemia major by Walker in 1969, hundreds of pregnancies have been reported so far, highlighting that women carefully managed in the preconception phase usually carry out a successful gestation and labor, both in case of spontaneous conception and assisted reproductive techniques.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Transfusion dependent and nontransfusion- dependent thalassemia
• Pregnancy ended with the birth of a live or dead foetus
• Pregnancy ended in miscarriage or voluntary abortion
• Pregnancy in progress

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other types of anemia
• Pregnancy not initiated despite assisted fertilization practices
• Subjects unwilling to sign informed consent