Successful twin pregnancy in homozygous beta-thalassemia after ovulation induction with growth hormone and gonadotropins.

OBJECTIVE

To describe infertility treatment and pregnancy outcome in a patient with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major and hypopituitarism.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

University-affiliated infertility clinic.

PATIENT: Twenty-four-year-old infertile patient with homozygous beta-thalassemia.

INTERVENTION: Co-treatment with GH and gonadotropins.

RESULTS

Ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate or gonadotropins alone was unsuccessful. Combined treatment with hMG, hCG, and recombinant human GH followed by intrauterine insemination resulted in a viable twin pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Human GH as an adjunct to hMG and hCG seems to be a sensible approach in the treatment of infertile homozygous beta-thalassemic patients among which very few pregnancies are reported.