Effect of maternal sickle-cell trait on perinatal mortality.

Possession of the sickle-cell trait (Hb AS) by the African mother has been shown to be associated with a significant increase in perinatal mortality when there is anoxic stress. This observation should be taken into consideration in the management of labour of both the indigenous and immigrant mothers at risk. The findings do not influence the proposed explanations for the maintenance of high frequencies of the haemoglobin S gene in areas of endemic malaria.