Screening of antenatal patients for anaemia and haemoglobinopathies

Abstract

Introduction: Anaemia is an extremely common condition in pregnancy worldwide, conferring a number of health risks to mother and child. Iron deficiency is most widespread micronutritional deficiency in the world and disproportionately affects female because of increased iron requirements during menstruation, pregnancy and lactation. Haemoglobinopathies are a group of inherited disorders because of abnormalities in haemoglobin synthesis or structure. Thalassemia and Sickle cell anaemias are the most prevalent haemoglobinopathies and a national health burden in India so identifying these disorders during antenatal period is necessary to take appropriate measures. Methods: A prospective study of screening for haemoglobin variants in Antenatal Patients due to low haemoglobin and evaluation of other causes was performed for 1 year with 570 samples. In Low Hb patients’ CBC, Reticulocyte staining and sickling test was performed. Haemoglobin analysis was done by HPLC BIO RAD VARIANT II. In Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) Serum ferritin & Serum Iron level were done and in Megaloblastic Anaemia(MA) Vitamin B12 level were done. Result: Prevalence of anaemia in antenatal patients was 90.25%; in this IDA presented with 84.21%, MA with 4.73% and Dimorphic anaemia 1.27%. Prevalence of haemoglobinopathies in this study was 9.75%; in this Beta Thalassemia Minor present with 5.08%, Sickle Cell Trait 4.03%, Hb D Punjab 0.52% and Hb Q india 0.17%. Conclusion: Antenatal screening for genetic disorders, such as Beta thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia, aims to reduce the burden of these diseases by offering information to individual with a high likelihood of giving birth to affected babies and giving parents more choices regarding their reproductive decisions. For this, premarital and antenatal screening should be mandatory to prevent the birth of affected offspring.