Key points
ll The management of women diagnosed with thalassaemia is complex,
requiring a multidisciplinary approach to care, as the potential for
maternal and fetal complications present risks during pregnancy
and birth
ll The major risks for maternal complications stem from organ damage
caused by excessive iron stores deposited in target organs and
surrounding tissue; osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism
and a reduced efficiency of endocrine glands
llAnaemia during pregnancy is an obstetric risk amplified by
thalassaemia, with many women previously asymptomatic needing
transfusions to maintain therapeutic Hb levels
llFetal Hb Barts hydrops fetalis is a rare thalassaemia mutation that
can occur during pregnancy, causing extreme haemoglobin instability,
severe anaemia and hypoxia to the fetus
llPharmacological treatment is the first line of therapy in managing
symptoms of thalassaemia, and research into complementary and
alternative medicine suggests that non-pharmacological therapies
may provide cost-effective, low-risk support to pregnant women