The hemoglobinopathies and pregnancy in Lagos.

Thirty-four patients with abnormal hemoglobin were studied through 42 pregnancies under one obstetrician. There were 30 patients with sickle cell anemia (HbSS), two with sickle cell hemoglobin C disease (HbSC) and two with homozygous hemoglobin C disease (HbCC). There were 39 live births (including one pair of twins), and four perinatal deaths. The patients with HbSC and HbCC had five uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries. Of the 36 pregnancies in patients with HbSS one aborted at 12 weeks. Intra-uterine growth retardation (14.3%) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (14.3%) were the most serious pregnancy complications. No patient had more than one crisis. Only one out of the 10 patients transfused needed more than two units of blood throughout pregnancy. The mean gestation at delivery was 37.5 +/- 3.2 (S.D.) weeks. The mean birth weight was 2.7 +/- 0.6 (S.D.) kg. The perinatal mortality was 114.3 per thousand live births and there was one maternal death.