Pregnancy and sickle cell haemoglobinopathies in Bahrain

In order to determine the significant factors which may contribute to complications in pregnant Bahraini mothers with sickle cell haemoglobinopathy, a study was conducted in 100 consecutive unselected mothers [35 SS and 65 AS] and the results were compared with 200 control women with a normal haemoglobin electrophoretic pattern. The incidence of vaso-occlusive crisis was significant in mothers with sickle cell disease belonging to low socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, it was observed that high levels of fetal haemoglobin did not have any beneficial effect in patients with sickle cell disease during the vaso-occlusive episodes