Pregnancy outcomes among patients with sickle cell disease at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: retrospective cohort study

Current obstetric outcomes in Jamaican women with sickle hemoglobinopathy - a balance of risks for aspirin?

OBJECTIVES

Sickle cell disease (SCD) occurs in 2.8 % of our Jamaican antenatal population with homozygous HbSS being most associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective comparative analysis of HbSS, HbSC and HbSβThal pregnancy outcomes at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) between January 2012 and December 2022 was conducted.

RESULTS

Of 120 patients (138 pregnancies), obesity occurred in 36 % (20/56) of the 'non-HbSS' group, i.e. HbSβThal (55 %, 5/9) and HbSC (32 %, 15/47) combined vs. 9.7 % of the HbSS (8/82). HbSS patients had more crises requiring transfusions, acute chest syndrome (ACS), maternal 'near-misses' (OR=10.7, 95 % 3.5-32.3; p<0.001), hospitalizations (OR 7.6, 95 % CI 3.4-16.9; p<0.001), low birth weight (LBW) neonates (OR 3.1, 1.1-8.9; p=0.037) and preterm birth (OR=2.6, 1.2-5.8; p=0.018) compared to HbSC and HbSβThal. Low dose aspirin was prescribed in 43 %. Logistic regression showed those NOT on aspirin (n=76) had more miscarriages (22 v. 2 %), were LESS likely to have a live birth (75 v. 95 % (0.2, 0.04-0.57, p=0.005)), but surprisingly had fewer painful crises (28 v. 46 % (0.5, 0.03-0.9, p=0.03)).

CONCLUSIONS

HbSS women had a 10-fold excess of maternal near-misses. Additional research may further clarify the effects of aspirin on pregnancy outcomes as related to SCD genotypes.

Sickle cell disease and increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in different genotypes

BACKGROUND

Sickle cell disease (SCD) comprises a heterogeneous group of inherited hemolytic disorders that increases the risk of maternal and perinatal complications due to chronic systemic inflammatory response, endothelial damage and vaso-occlusion. The contribution of genotypes to the severity of outcomes during pregnancy is not completely established.

METHODS

A retrospective study of medical charts was performed to compare maternal and perinatal outcomes in Hb SS, Hb SC disease and sickle-beta thalassemia (Hb Sβ) pregnancies followed at a high-risk antenatal care unit over a 6-year period. A descriptive analysis of morphological findings was performed of the placenta when pathology reports were available.

RESULTS

Sixty-two SCD pregnant women [25 Hb SS (40 %), 29 Hb SC (47 %) and 8 Hb Sβ (13 %)] were included. Overall, SCD was associated with maternal complications (77 %), preterm birth (30 %), cesarean section (80 %) and a need of blood transfusion. In general there were no statistically significant differences between genotypes. The only significant difference was the hemoglobin level at first antenatal care visit which was lower for the homozygous genotype (7.7 g/dL) compared to Hb SC and Hb Sβ (9.7 g/dL and 8.4 g/dL, respectively; p-value = 0.01). Ten of 15 evaluated placentas showed abnormal morphological findings CONCLUSION: SCD, regardless of the underlying genotype, is associated with increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes and placental abnormalities associated with maternal vascular malperfusion.

How I treat sickle cell disease in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Fifty years ago, people with sickle cell disease (SCD) were discouraged from becoming pregnant, but now, most should be supported if they choose to pursue a pregnancy. They and their providers, however, should be aware of the physiological changes of pregnancy that aggravate SCD and pregnancy's unique maternal and fetal challenges. Maternal problems can arise from chronic underlying organ dysfunction such as renal disease or pulmonary hypertension; from acute complications of SCD such as acute anemia, vaso-occlusive crises, and acute chest syndrome; and/or from pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia, sepsis, severe anemia, thromboembolism, and the need for cesarean delivery. Fetal problems include alloimmunization, opioid exposure, fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, and stillbirth. Before and during pregnancy, in addition to the assessment and care that every pregnant patient should receive, patients with SCD should be evaluated and treated by a multidisciplinary team with respect to their unique maternal and fetal issues.

Impact and burden of sickle cell disease in critically ill obstetric patients in a high dependency unit in Sierra Leone-a registry based evaluation

INTRODUCTION

Sickle cell disease (SCD) in pregnancy is associated with worse maternal and neonatal outcomes. There is limited available data describing the burden and outcomes of critically ill obstetric patients affected by SCD in low-income settings.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to define SCD burden and impact on mortality in critically-ill obstetric patients admitted to an urban referral hospital in Sierra Leone. We hypothesized that SCD burden is high and independently associated with increased mortality.

METHODS

We performed a registry-based cross-sectional study from March 2020 to December 2021 in the high-dependency unit (HDU) of Princess Christian Maternity Hospital PCMH, Freetown. Primary endpoints were the proportion of patients identified in the SCD group and HDU mortality. Secondary endpoints included frequency of maternal direct obstetric complications (MDOCs) and the maternal early obstetric warning score (MEOWS).

RESULTS

Out of a total of 497 patients, 25 (5.5%) qualified to be included in the SCD group. MEOWS on admission was not different between patients with and without SCD and SCD patients had also less frequently reported MDOCs. Yet, crude HDU mortality in the SCD group was 36%, compared to 9.5% in the non SCD group (P < 0.01), with an independent association between SCD group exposure and mortality when accounting for severity on admission (hazard ratio 3.40; 95%CI 1.57-7.39; P = 0.002). Patients with SCD had a tendency to longer HDU length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

One out of twenty patients accessing a HDU in Sierra Leone fulfilled criteria for SCD. Despite comparable severity on admission, mortality in SCD patients was four times higher than patients without SCD. Optimization of intermediate and intensive care for this group of patients should be prioritized in low-resource settings with high maternal mortality.

Maternal morbidity and mortality associated with mode of delivery in sickle cell disease

This retrospective observational study compared pregnancy outcomes based on mode of delivery in women with homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS) to women without (HbAA) using delivery records of 48,600 parturients between January 1992 and January 2020. Fisher's exact tests and Mann-Whitney's test were used to analyse variables based on sickle cell status. Vaginal delivery and HbSS were more associated with labour induction/augmentation (AOR = 2.4, (0.7-7.8)), intrapartum complications (AOR = 2.6, (0.5-14)), postpartum haemorrhage (AOR = 2.8 (0.5-15.2)) and postpartum infections (AOR = 9.6 (1.7-54.4)). Caesarean delivery resulted in more postpartum infections in the HbSS group (AOR = 23.6 (0.9-638.4)). Vaginal delivery in HbSS resulted in more intrapartum complications and postpartum haemorrhage but caesarean delivery greatly increased the risk of postpartum infections and hypertensive disorders. Sickle cell disease (SCD) did not confer increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes regardless of mode of delivery.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Women with homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) are at an increased risk of postpartum infections, undergoing caesarean delivery, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and overall perinatal mortality when compared to women with normal haemoglobin genotype. Comparisons have been made between homozygous SS disease and haemoglobin SC disease revealing higher rates of maternal and foetal morbidity in both groups.What do the results of this study add? Studies comparing maternal and foetal morbidity based on mode of delivery are lacking. To our knowledge, this study is the first examine maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with SCD undergoing vaginal and abdominal delivery compared to women with normal haemoglobin. We found that vaginal delivery in SCD is associated with more postpartum haemorrhage and caesarean delivery was linked to more hypertensive disorders and postpartum infections then compared to women with normal haemoglobin. Converse to other reports, there was no difference in perinatal outcomes based on mode of delivery.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Caesarean delivery and SCD greatly increased the risk of postpartum infections and hypertensive disorders but did not confer a higher risk of postpartum haemorrhage. There were more maternal deaths in SCD women who underwent caesarean vs. vaginal delivery and this requires further study to determine the pregestational predictors of adverse outcomes. Women with SCD who achieve a successful primary vaginal delivery may have reduced risk of complications in subsequent pregnancies, possibly comparable to women without the disease.

Pregnancy in the Sickle Cell Disease and Fetomaternal Outcomes in Different Sickle cell Genotypes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Pregnancy is a major concern among women with the sickle cell disease (SCD), and it is associated with increased adverse outcomes. The aim of the present meta-analysis is to report the fetomaternal outcomes in different sickle cell genotypes.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a comprehensive search of databases and search engines such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, Science Direct and Google Scholar were performed. Any observational studies that had compared at least one outcome such as maternal outcomes, fetal outcomes, and morbidity between two groups of pregnant women with different types of sickle cell genotypes and pregnant women without SCD were evaluated.

Results

A total number of 9,827 pregnant women with SCD were examined. The results showed that pregnancy in SCD increased the risk of adverse outcomes for the mothers (including postpartum hemorrhage, prematurity, pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, cesarean section, lower segment cesareansection, maternal death), fetus (including live births, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, APGAR score at 5 min <7, stillbirth, neonatal death, perinatal mortality, acute fetal distress, intrauterine fetal death) and morbidity among the SCD(severe anemia, urinary tract infection, blood transfusion, painful crisis, acute chest syndrome, vaso-occlusive crises).

Conclusion

According to the results of this meta-analysis, pregnancy in the SCD is associated with an increased risk of maternal outcomes, fetal outcomes, and morbidity among SCD patients with different genotypes. Pregnancy in sickle cell hemoglobinopathies needs careful multidisciplinary management and cautious caring so as to decrease maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

Main Complications during Pregnancy and Recommendations for Adequate Antenatal Care in Sickle Cell Disease: A Literature Review

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common monogenic disease worldwide, with a variable prevalence in each continent. A single nucleotide substitution leads to an amino-acid change in the β-globin chain, altering the normal structure ofhemoglobin, which is then called hemoglobin S inherited in homozygosity (HbSS) or double heterozygosity (HbSC, HbSβ), and leads to chronic hemolysis, vaso-occlusion, inflammation, and endothelium activation. Pregnant women with SCD are at a higher risk of developing maternal and perinatal complications. We performed a narrative review of the literature considering SCD and pregnancy, the main clinical and obstetrical complications, the specific antenatal care, and the follow-up for maternal and fetal surveillance. Pregnant women with SCD are at a higher risk of developing clinical and obstetric complications such as pain episodes, pulmonary complications, infections, thromboembolic events, preeclampsia, and maternal death. Their newborns are also at an increased risk of developing neonatal complications: fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth. Severe complications can occur in patients of any genotype. We concluded that SCD is a high-risk condition that increases maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. A multidisciplinary approach during pregnancy and the postpartum period is key to adequately diagnose and treat complications.

Sickle cell anaemia in vaso-occlusive crisis and acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a case report

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is an uncommon condition that manifests in the third trimester of pregnancy. Its association with vaso-occlusive crisis from Sickle Cell Anaemia is not common. Published data on the simultaneous occurrence of these two conditions is rare, hence this case report. A 32-year-old gravida 3 para 1+¹ lady, with Sickle Cell Anaemia, had a vaso-occlusive crisis in association with AFLP at 32 weeks' gestation, and the outcome of her management was successful.

AFLP is a rare late-gestational event affecting about 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 pregnancies. The exact aetiology is not known. Profound hypoglycaemia and jaundice with elevated serum transaminases are recognized features of AFLP. These features may also be seen in haemoglobinopathies. The simultaneous occurrence of AFLP and Sickle Cell Anaemia may result in overlap of symptoms and delay in diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, maintaining a high index of suspicion is key. The cornerstone for treatment remains prompt delivery and supportive care.

AFLP can coexist with Sickle cell crises. It is important that care providers, especially in populations with high burden of Sickle Cell Anaemia, consider this as a differential diagnosis, especially when the jaundice is associated with profound or recurring episodes of hypoglycaemia. Prompt diagnosis and delivery in a multidisciplinary approach is important to avoid adverse maternal and foetal outcomes.

Opioid-Related Disorders Among Pregnant Women with Sickle Cell Disease and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Opioid use during pregnancy has increased in recent years, parallel with the opioid epidemic in the general population. Opioids are commonly used as an analgesic for pain crisis, a hallmark symptom of sickle cell disease (SCD). With the amplified frequency and severity of SCD pain crisis during pregnancy, the use of opioids may increase concurrently. The aim of this study was to examine trends in opioid-related disorders (ORDs) among pregnant women with and without SCD, as well as assess the risk for preterm labor, maternal sepsis, and poor fetal growth among patients with SCD and ORD.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of inpatient pregnancy- and childbirth-related hospital discharge data from the 2002-2014 National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample database. The primary outcome was the risk of ORD in pregnant women with SCD and its impact on threatened preterm labor, fetal growth, and maternal sepsis.

RESULTS

Among the >57 million pregnancy-related hospitalizations examined, 9.6 per 10,000 had SCD. ORD in mothers with SCD was four times as prevalent as in those without SCD (2% vs 0.5%). A significant rise in ORD occurred throughout the study period and was associated with an increased risk of maternal sepsis, threatened preterm labor, and poor fetal growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with SCD have a fourfold increased risk of ORD compared with their non-SCD counterparts. The current opioid epidemic continues to worsen in both groups, warranting a tailored and effective public health response to reduce the resulting adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Pregnancy outcome in homozygous sickle cell disease: observations from the Jamaican Birth Cohort

OBJECTIVE

To document pregnancy outcome in homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease and in age-matched controls with a normal haemoglobin genotype followed from birth for up to 45 years.

METHODS

A total of 100 000 consecutive non-operative deliveries screened for sickle cell disease at the main Government maternity hospital in Kingston, Jamaica between 1973 and 1981 detected 311 (149 female) babies with SS disease who were matched by age and gender with 250 (129 female) controls with an AA haemoglobin phenotype. These individuals have been followed from birth with prospective assessment of menarche and detailed documentation of all pregnancies.

RESULTS

There were 177 pregnancies in 71 SS patients and 226 pregnancies in 74 AA controls. Mothers with SS disease had more spontaneous abortions (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 3.2, 95% CI 1.6-6.1), fewer live births (aRR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9) and their offspring were more likely to have a gestational age <37 weeks (aRR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.7) and low birthweight <2.5 kg (aRR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6-5.3). They were more prone to acute chest syndrome (aRR 13.7, 95% CI 4.1-45.5), urinary tract infection (aRR 12.8, 95% CI 1.3-125.9), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (aRR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.8), retained placenta (aRR 10.1, 95% CI 1.1-90.3), sepsis (Fisher's Exact test 0.04) and pregnancy-related deaths (Fisher's Exact test 0.02). Four of five deaths were attributable to acute chest syndrome. There was no genotypic difference in pregnancy-induced hypertension or postpartum haemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy in SS disease carries risks for both mother and child. The variable characteristics of pregnancy-related deaths complicate their prevention.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Pregnancy in SS disease compared with controls showed increased abortions and stillbirths, fewer live births and maternal deaths in 7% patients.

Pregnancy Outcomes among Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Brazzaville

INTRODUCTION

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic diseases in the world. It combines, in its homozygous form, chronic hemolytic anemia, vasoocclusive complications, and susceptibility to infections. It is well known that the combination of pregnancy and sickle cell disease promotes the occurrence of complications that are sometimes fatal for the mother and/or the fetus.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current study was to compare pregnancy outcomes among women with SCD with those of women without the diagnosis of SCD. Materials and methods. It was a case-control study carried out in four maternity hospitals in Brazzaville in 2 years (July 2017-June 2019). It concerned 65 parturients with SS homozygous SCD. The mode of childbirth and maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality were compared with those of 130 non-sickle cell pregnant women.

RESULTS

The average age was 27 years for SCD women and 31 years for non-SCD women. The average gestational age at delivery was 35 weeks for SCD women and 38 weeks for non-SCD women. From the logistic regression analysis using the comparison group as the reference group, there was excessive risk in SCD compared to non-SCD of infection (29.3% vs. 4.6%, OR = 21.7, 95% CI [7.6-62.7]; p=0.001), cesarean (63% vs. 35.4%, OR = 3.1, 95% CI [1.6-5.7]; p=0.001), prematurity (75.4% vs. 30.8%, OR = 8, 95% CI [3.0-23.2]; p=0.001), low birth weight (52.3% vs. 16.1%, OR = 4.7, 95% CI [2.4-9.4]; p=0.001), neonatal requiring admission to the intensive care unit (40.3% vs. 17.5%, OR = 3.2, 95% CI [1.6-6.3]; p=0.01), and neonatal death (21.5% vs. 4.8%, OR = 4.3, 95% CI [1.5-12.2]; p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

The risk of pregnancy in patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia remains high, on both the maternal and fetal sides.

Role of prophylactic and therapeutic red blood cell exchange in pregnancy with sickle cell disease: Maternal and perinatal outcomes

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The incidence of fetomaternal complications during pregnancy is high for women with sickle cell disease (SCD), which is the most common hematologic genetic disorder worldwide. Prophylactic red blood cell exchange (pRBCX) has been shown to be efficient, safe, and feasible for preventing complications. The aim of this study was to observe maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies in which pRBCX was.

METHOD

This was a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study, which recruited 46 consecutive adult pregnant women with SCD between January 2012 and June 2019. Obstetric features, SCD-related complications, and fetomaternal outcomes were compared between the 27 patients who received prophylactic exchange and the 19 who did not (therapeutic exchange was performed in 7 and was not performed in 12 cases).

RESULTS

Painful crises, preeclampsia, and preterm birth rates were significantly higher in the group that did not receive prophylactic exchange (control group; P = .001, P = .024, and P = .027, respectively). There was one maternal mortality in the control group (P = .41). Incidence of adverse fetal or maternal complications was significantly higher in the control group (P = .044 and P = .007, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our center's experience over a 7.5-year period, as described above, demonstrates that pRBCX in SCD affects the course of pregnancy positively by ameliorating negative fetomaternal outcomes.

Management of sickle cell disease during pregnancy: experience in a third-level hospital and future recommendations

Objective: To describe the outcomes of sickle-cell disease in pregnancy according to the different treatments adopted before and during pregnancy and to propose a systematic approach to treat sickle-cell disease (SCD) during pregnancy.Methods: A retrospective descriptive study compared pregnancy outcomes among women with SCD who stopped hydroxyurea (HU) once pregnant (Group 1), were never treated before and during pregnancy (Group 2) or were treated by HU before conception who received prophylactic transfusion during pregnancy (Group 3). For each group we recorded the population's characteristics and the transfusion-related, obstetrical, perinatal and SCD complications.Results: We found 11 patients for group 1 (9/11 with at least 3 painful crises during the 12 months before conception), 4 for group 2 (3/4 with no sickle-cell complications during the year before pregnancy) and 2 for group 3 (one with previous multiorgan failure (MOF), one with previous stroke). No transfusion-related complication occurred. Group 1 and 2 developed SCD complications and a high number of acute transfusions and hospital admissions. Group 3 showed none of these complications, but one patient developed preeclampsia and preterm birth. Several obstetrical and perinatal complications occurred in group 1.Conclusion: Not treating sickle-cell during pregnancy increases maternal and perinatal morbidity, even in mildly affected women. All sickle-cell pregnancies should be treated, according to the treatment adopted before but also to patient's SCD-history. We propose chronic transfusion to women with previous stroke or MOF or already under transfusion program, and HU for severely and mildly affected patients, respectively from the second and third trimesters. Additional prospective studies are needed to validate the results of the proposed protocol.

Pulmonary complications for women with sickle cell disease in pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a multisystem disease characterised by vaso-occlusive crisis, chronic anaemia and a shorter lifespan. More patients with SCD are living till reproductive age and contemplating pregnancy. Pulmonary complications in pregnancy are significant causes of maternal morbidity and mortality but yet this has not been systematically quantified. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to quantify the association between SCD and pulmonary complications in pregnancy.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane and Maternity and Infant Care databases were searched for publications between January 1998 and April 2019. Observational studies involving at least 30 participants were included. Random-effects models were used for statistical meta-analysis.

FINDINGS

Twenty-two studies were included in the systematic review and 18 in the quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis included 3964 pregnancies with SCD and 336 559 controls. Compared with women without SCD, pregnancies complicated by SCD were at increased risk of pulmonary thromboembolism (relative risk (RR) 7.74; 95% CI 4.65 to 12.89). The estimated prevalence of acute chest syndrome and pneumonia was 6.46% (95% CI 4.66% to 8.25%), with no significant difference between the HbSS and HbSC genotypes (RR 1.42; 95% CI 0.90 to 2.23).

INTERPRETATION

This meta-analysis highlighted a strong association between SCD and maternal pulmonary complications. Understanding the risks of and the factors associated with pulmonary complications would aid preconceptual counselling and optimal management of the condition in pregnancy, thereby reducing associated maternal morbidity and mortality.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019124708.

Rate of Food Insecurity Among Households with Children with Sickle Cell Disease is Above the National Average

OBJECTIVES

Despite studies demonstrating the negative impact of food insecurity on health in children, limited research has been done to assess the prevalence and sequelae of food insecurity in sickle cell disease (SCD). We tested the hypothesis that food insecurity is common in children with SCD and is associated with increased SCD morbidity.

METHODS

Between May and November 2017, we conducted a single-center cross-sectional study using the previously validated, self-administered, US 18-item household food security survey module and the 9-item youth (12-17 years old) food security survey module during regular outpatient clinic visits. We also included the incidence of vaso-occlusive pain or acute chest syndrome requiring hospitalizations in the year before the questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 75 caregivers and 24 children completed the surveys. The median age of the children was 10.4 years (interquartile range 5.5-15.3), 46.7% were boys. The rate of household food insecurity was 21.3% (16 of 75). Among the 24 children who completed the youth survey, 45.8% were classified as food insecure. Discordance occurred between caregivers' and children's assessment of food insecurity. A total of 81.8% (9 of 11) children reported being food insecure, whereas their caregivers reported to be food secure. The incidence for pain and acute chest syndrome in the year pre-enrollment was not different between food-secure and food-insecure children (59.3 and 43.8/100 patient-years, P = 0.54; 8.5 and 12.5/100 patient-years, P = 0.49, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In a tertiary care medical center in Tennessee, one in five households with children with SCD were assessed as food insecure, with a substantial discordance between caregiver and child assessment of food insecurity.

Outcome of pregnancies among women with sickle cell disease

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of pregnancies among women affected by sickle cell disease (SCD).Material and methods: This retrospective comparative cohort study was carried out between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018. The files of pregnant women with and without SCD were analyzed. The main variables recorded included parity, diseases that occurred during pregnancy, maternal and gestational ages at delivery, mode of delivery, birthweight and Apgar score. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Fisher exact test and the t-test was used for comparison. p < .05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Our frequency of delivery of women with SCD was 0.1% (35/34,895). Significant complications associated with SCD were maternal anemia (RR = 17.00, 95%CI = 5.35-53.99), intra-uterine fetal demise (RR = 12.00, 95%CI = 1.39-103.22), low birthweight (RR = 2.52, 95%CI = 1.50-4.25), neonatal asphyxia (RR = 7.70, 95%CI = 2.57-22.99), transfer of newborn to the neonatal intensive care unit (RR = 3.42, 95%CI = 1.94-6.03), early neonatal death (RR = 4.56, 95%CI = 1.09-19.10), and maternal postpartum severe anemia (RR = 4.50, 95%CI = 1.36-14.87).Conclusions: Pregnancies amongst women with SCD are still associated with increased risk of maternal anemia as well as perinatal morbidity and mortality despite frequent blood transfusion. Therefore, new strategies should be explored to improve such pregnancies.

Inpatient mortality and postpartum readmission rates in sickle cell disease pregnancies: a multistate analysis, 2007-2014

OBJECTIVE

We compared post-partum outcomes between sickle cell disease (SCD) and non-sickle cell populations.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of discharge data for 6,911,916 inpatient deliveries in the states of California, Florida, New York, Maryland, and Kentucky from 2007 to 2014 using data from the State Inpatient Databases, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. We compared unadjusted rates and adjusted odds of 30- and 90-d readmission rates, in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges in SCD, sickle cell trait, and non-sickle cell patients.

RESULTS

Compared to non-sickle cell patients, SCD patients were more than two times as likely to die in-hospital (aOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.15-4.04, p < .05), 27% as likely to be readmitted up to 30 d postdelivery (aOR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.13-1.43, p < .001), and 92% as likely to be readmitted up to 90 d postdelivery (aOR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.75-2.11, p < .001). The SCD group also had a longer median LOS, greater total hospital charges, were more likely to experience a postpartum complication, and receive a blood transfusion than the non-SCD group.

CONCLUSIONS

SCD in pregnancy is associated with increased inpatient mortality, readmissions, postpartum complications, LOS, and hospital charges.

Sickle Cell Education: A Survey of Antenatal Healthcare Givers

To explore the educational practices of antenatal care providers toward pregnant women with sickle cell disease (SCD) and sickle cell trait (SCT), a survey was conducted among selected doctors and midwives who provide antenatal care at the outpatient clinic of the Obstetric Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. The study explored their practices of screening for and patient education about SCD and SCT. Of the 102 respondents, 100(98%) stated that they were knowledgeable in the medical and genetic aspects of the disease. Regarding screening, 82(80.4%) reported mandatory screening for SCD, 9(8.8%) did not offer screening as routine, and 11(10.8%) gave patients the choice. The majority (93.1%) always informed patients when the test was positive but health-care providers less than six years experience were less likely to communicate SCT status to patients without the trait (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41, 95% CI [0.18-0.93]). Nurses/midwives were less likely to tell patients their carrier status (OR = 0.25, 95% CI [0.10-0.59]). There was also variation in referral practices for genetic counseling, with 26.5% always referring, 28.4% never doing so, and 45.1% only referring if the patient had questions. This may affect patients' awareness of this genetic condition. Therefore, continuous medical education on SCD/SCT and standardization of counseling may help inform couples' family planning choices and reduce the burden of the disease on future generation and health care.

Multidisciplinary care results in similar maternal and perinatal mortality rates for women with and without SCD in a low-resource setting

In Africa, the maternal mortality rate in sickle cell disease (SCD) is ~10%. Our team previously demonstrated an 89% decrease in mortality rate in a before-and-after feasibility study among women with SCD living in low-resource setting in Ghana. In the same cohort including additional participants with and without SCD, we used a prospective cohort design to test the hypothesis that implementing a multidisciplinary care team for pregnant women with SCD in low-resource setting will result in similar maternal and perinatal mortality rates compared to women without SCD. We prospectively enrolled pregnant women with and without SCD or trait and followed them up for 6-week postpartum. We tested the newborns of mothers with SCD for SCD. We recruited age and parity matched pregnant women without SCD or trait as the comparison group. Maternal and perinatal mortality rates were the primary outcomes. A total of 149 pregnant women with SCD (HbSS, 54; HbSC, 95) and 117 pregnant women without SCD or trait were included in the analysis. Post-intervention, maternal mortality rates were 1.3% and 0.9% in women with and without SCD, respectively (P = 1.00); the perinatal mortality rates were 7.4% and 3.4% for women with and without SCD, respectively (P = 0.164). Among the mothers with SCD, ~15% of newborns had SCD. Multidisciplinary care of pregnant women with SCD may reduce maternal and perinatal mortality rates to similar levels in pregnant women without SCD in low-resource settings. Newborns of mothers with SCD have a high rate of SCD.

Adverse clinical and obstetric outcomes among pregnant women with different sickle cell disease genotypes

OBJECTIVE

To compare clinical and obstetric adverse events among pregnant women with sickle cell disease (SCD) according to genotype.

METHODS

The present cross-sectional study enrolled women aged 15-49 years with SCD and prior pregnancy attending a hematology center in Recife, Brazil, between September 1, 2015, and April 30, 2016. Associations between sickle cell genotype (HbSS, HbSC, Sβ-thalassemia) and adverse events were evaluated.

RESULTS

Overall, 89 women were included; 74 (83%) had HbSS genotype, 8 (9%) had HbSC genotype, and 7 (8%) had Sβ-thalassemia genotype. Fifty-three (60%) self-reported being of mixed race, and 27 (30%) self-reported they were black. Blood transfusion was observed more frequently among women with HbSS than among those with HbSC genotype (P=0.007). Postpartum adverse events were more frequent in the Sβ-thalassemia than in the HbSS group (P=0.030). Fetal intrauterine death occurred only among women with the HbSS genotype (11 [15%]). In the HbSS group, there was a higher frequency of blood transfusion (P=0.004) and lower rate of spontaneous abortion (P=0.001) among women with six or more consultations.

CONCLUSION

The HbSS genotype was associated with a higher frequency of blood transfusion. Sβ-thalassemia was associated with a higher frequency of postpartum adverse events. Prenatal care was associated with a lower rate of spontaneous abortion in the HbSS group.

Evaluation of Umbilical Artery Doppler Indices in Pregnant Women With Sickle Cell Anemia Disease at a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Pregnant patients with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) are at risk of adverse outcomes to the mother and the fetus due to unique pathophysiologic changes. The purpose of this study was to determine the umbilical artery (UA) Doppler indices at 26 weeks gestational age (GA) in HbSS women with uncomplicated pregnancies and compare with the obstetric outcome. In this cohort study, 60 HbSS and 60 normal hemoglobin (HbAA) women with uncomplicated pregnancies were recruited from the antenatal clinic and prospectively followed to delivery. UA velocimetry, fetal biometry, maternal hematocrit, and parity were assessed at 26 weeks. Fetomaternal outcomes were also documented. UA Doppler indices and estimated fetal weights were comparable to those of HbAA control subjects at 26 weeks GA. There was a statistically significant increase in adverse obstetric outcomes in HbSS patients. There was no correlation between maternal hematocrit and artery indices. Further research is required to determine cutoff values and optimal timing for sonography in HbSS patients.

Chemokines in pregnant women with sickle cell disease

Pregnancy in sickle cell disease is a problem due to the adverse outcomes related to the disease. Research into the role of chemokines in sickle cell disease is available, but studies investigating the disease in pregnancy are scarce. Our data show the chemokine profiles of pregnant women with sickle cell disease compared with control groups. There were no differences in MCP-1 level among the groups, but IL-8 and MIG were likely related with disease activity. In addition, levels of IP-10 were higher in pregnant women with sickle cell disease and, interestingly, RANTES levels were higher in normal pregnancy when compared to pregnancy in sickle cell disease. More studies should be encouraged to fully elucidate chemokine activity during pregnancy in sickle cell disease.

Current Evidence for the Use of Prophylactic Transfusion to Treat Sickle Cell Disease During Pregnancy

The role of prophylactic transfusion therapy for the treatment of sickle cell disease during pregnancy is unclear. An analysis of the existing literature shows a limited number of publications that address this issue and specifically compare clinical outcomes in this population based on a treatment strategy of prophylactic transfusion versus transfusion only for clinical indications (on-demand transfusion). The existing studies show a wide variation in study design and outcomes measured. The results of this analysis suggest that there are insufficient data to support a clinically significant difference in morbidity and mortality outcomes based on transfusion strategy. Additional prospective clinical studies need to be performed to adequately address the risks and benefits of prophylactic transfusion and guide clinical decision making.

Implementation of multidisciplinary care reduces maternal mortality in women with sickle cell disease living in low-resource setting

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. In women with SCD living in low-resource settings, pregnancy is associated with significantly increased maternal and perinatal mortality rates. We tested the hypothesis that implementing a multidisciplinary obstetric and hematology care team in a low-resource setting would significantly reduce maternal and perinatal mortality rates. We conducted a before-and-after study, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana, to evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary obstetric-hematology care team for women with SCD in a combined SCD-Obstetric Clinic. The pre-intervention period was assessed through a retrospective chart review to identify every death and the post-intervention period was assessed prospectively. Interventions consisted of joint obstetrician and hematologist outpatient and acute inpatient reviews, close maternal and fetal surveillance, and simple protocols for management of acute chest syndrome and acute pain episodes. Primary outcomes included maternal and perinatal mortality rates before and after the study period. A total of 158 and 90 pregnant women with SCD were evaluated in the pre- and post- intervention periods, respectively. The maternal mortality rate decreased from 10 791 per 100 000 live births at pre-intervention to 1176 per 100 000 at post-intervention, representing a risk reduction of 89.1% (P = 0.007). Perinatal mortality decreased from 60.8 per 1000 total births at pre-intervention to 23.0 per 1000 at post-intervention, representing a risk reduction of 62.2% (P = 0.20). A multidisciplinary obstetric and hematology team approach can dramatically reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in a low-resource setting.

The role of nutrition in the pathophysiology and management of sickle cell disease among children: A review of literature

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the common inherited blood disorders in humans and has been associated with decreased dietary intake which results in poor nutritional status and impaired growth. Nutrition is one of the most important but often forgotten aspect of care of patients with chronic disorders and there have been emerging concern in literature on increased nutritional needs of SCD patients. This paper sought to review the available literature on the roles of individual nutrients in the pathophysiology and management of SCD among children. Children with SCD have been shown to exhibit suboptimal status with respect to both macronutrients and micronutrients. Thus, nutrition could play an important role in the management of SCD. However, there is paucity of evidence coming from trials with large sample sizes to support the suggestion that supplementation with various nutrients that have been considered in this review will be helpful.

Prevalence of Caesarean sections in Enugu, southeast Nigeria: Analysis of data from the Healthy Beginning Initiative

Background

In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goal to decrease maternal mortality, increased access to obstetric interventions such as Caesarean sections (CS) is of critical importance. As a result of women’s limited access to routine and emergency obstetric services in Nigeria, the country is a major contributor to the global burden of maternal mortality. In this analysis, we aim to establish rates of CS and determine socioeconomic or medical risk factors associated with having a CS in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.

Methods

Data for this study originated from the Healthy Beginning Initiative study. Participant characteristics were obtained from 2300 women at baseline via a semi-structured questionnaire. Only women between the ages of 17–45 who had singleton deliveries were retained for this analysis. Post-delivery questionnaires were used to ascertain mode-of-delivery. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions with Caesarean as the main outcome are presented.

Results

In this sample, 7.22% women had a CS. Compared to women who lived in an urban setting, those who lived in a rural setting had a significant reduction in the odds of having a CS (aOR: 0.58; 0.38–0.89). Significantly higher odds of having a CS were seen among those with high peripheral malaria parasitemia compared to those with low parasitemia (aOR: 1.54; 1.04–2.28).

Conclusion

This study revealed that contrary to the increasing trend in use of CS in low-income countries, women in this region of Nigeria had limited access to this intervention. Increasing age and socioeconomic proxies for income and access to care (e.g., having a tertiary-level education, full-time employment, and urban residence) were shown to be key determinants of access to CS. Further research is needed to ascertain the obstetric conditions under which women in this region receive CS, and to further elucidate the role of socioeconomic factors in accessing CS.

Knowledge insufficient: the management of haemoglobin SC disease

Although haemoglobin SC (HbSC) accounts for 30% of sickle cell disease (SCD) in the United States and United Kingdom, evidence-based guidelines for genotype specific management are lacking. The unique pathology of HbSC disease is complex, characterized by erythrocyte dehydration, intracellular sickling and increased blood viscosity. The evaluation and treatment of patients with HbSC is largely inferred from studies of SCD consisting mostly of haemoglobin SS (HbSS) patients. These studies are underpowered to allow definitive conclusions about HbSC. We review the pathophysiology of HbSC disease, including known and potential differences between HbSS and HbSC, and highlight knowledge gaps in HbSC disease management. Clinical and translational research is needed to develop targeted treatments and to validate management recommendations for efficacy, safety and impact on quality of life for people with HbSC.

Heme-mediated apoptosis and fusion damage in BeWo trophoblast cells

Placental malaria (PM) is a complication associated with malaria infection during pregnancy that often leads to abortion, premature delivery, intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight. Increased levels of circulating free heme, a by-product of Plasmodium-damaged erythrocytes, is a major contributor to inflammation, tissue damage and loss of blood brain barrier integrity associated with fatal experimental cerebral malaria. However, the role of heme in PM remains unknown. Proliferation and apoptosis of trophoblasts and fusion of the mononucleated state to the syncytial state are of major importance to a successful pregnancy. In the present study, we examined the effects of heme on the viability and fusion of a trophoblast-derived cell line (BeWo). Results indicate that heme induces apoptosis in BeWo cells by activation of the STAT3/caspase-3/PARP signaling pathway. In the presence of forskolin, which triggers trophoblast fusion, heme inhibits BeWo cell fusion through activation of STAT3. Understanding the effects of free plasma heme in pregnant women either due to malaria, sickle cell disease or other hemolytic diseases, will enable identification of high-risk women and may lead to discovery of new drug targets against associated adverse pregnancy outcome.

Contemporary outcomes of sickle cell disease in pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Data regarding pregnancy outcomes in sickle cell disease are conflicting. Previous studies are limited by small sample size, narrow geographic area, and a wide range of resource availability.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between maternal sickle cell disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a contemporary North American cohort.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2,027,323 women with singleton pregnancies delivered in California from 2005-2008. Deliveries at <24 or >42 6/7 weeks of gestation were excluded. Women with sickle cell disease were compared with control subjects. Maternal outcomes of interest included preeclampsia, preterm delivery, placental abruption, oligohydramnios, and cesarean delivery; neonatal outcomes included small for gestational age, anomalies, stillbirth, neonatal death, and infant death.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sickle cell disease was 0.017%. Compared with control subjects, women with sickle cell disease were more likely to have limited prenatal care (7.4 vs 3.8%; P=.001), underlying chronic hypertension (2.3% vs 1.1%; P=.038), and fetal anomalies (14.0 vs 6.4%; P<.001). The increased odds of fetal anomalies persisted after adjustment for multiple confounders (odds ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-2.38). Women with sickle cell disease also had higher odds of severe preeclampsia (odds ratio, 3.75; 95% confidence interval, 2.21-6.38), preterm delivery (odds ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.93-3.21), small for gestational age (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.25), and cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-2.67).

CONCLUSION

Women with sickle cell disease are at high risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity. Low rates of fetal and neonatal death may reflect improved antenatal surveillance and management as compared with previous studies. The association between sickle cell disease and fetal anomalies warrants further investigation.

Sickle cell disease and pregnancy outcomes: population-based study on 8.8 million births

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) in pregnancy, and to measure risk factors, morbidity, and mortality among women with SCD with and without crisis at the time of birth.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study on all births in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) from 1999 to 2008. Births to SCD with and without crisis were identified using ICD-9 codes. Adjusted effects of risk factors and outcomes were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Effect of hemoglobin variants among women with SCD was analyzed as a predictor of crisis.

RESULTS

There were 4262 births to women with SCD for an overall prevalence of 4.83 per 10,000 deliveries. 28.5% of women with SCD developed crisis at the time of delivery. The maternal mortality rate was 1.6 per 1000 deliveries in women with SCD, compared to 0.1 per 1000 in women without SCD. Pregnant women with SCD had a higher risk of developing preeclampsia, eclampsia, venous thromboembolism, cardiomyopathy, intrauterine fetal demise, and intrauterine growth restriction. Cesarean delivery rates were higher in women with SCD. Among the 1898 SCD women with identified hemoglobin variants, homozygous SS was the greatest risk factor for sickle cell crisis, accounting for 89.8% of all women who developed crisis.

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women with SCD have a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Developing acute sickle cell crisis worsened perinatal outcomes.