Successful management with artificial reproductive technology and preimplantation genetic diagnosis of a patient with alpha-thalassemia trait and repeated Hemoglobin Bart's Hydrops Fetalis Syndrome

ABSTRACT

A 38 year-old woman who had history of repeated Hemoglobin Bart's Hydrops Fetalis Syndrome in her first two consecutive pregnancies, was diagnosed as having alpha-thalassemia trait. On further investigation was likewise found to have a-thalassemia trait. Successful term pregnancy wa achieved through in-vitro fertilization with preimplantation diagnosis. Alpha-thelassemia is a common genetic disease that is prevalent in Southeast Asia. A couple with a-thalassemia trait is asymptomatic, but, they have 25 percent chance of having a child with the most fatal type of thalassemia-Hemoglobin Bart's Hydrops Fetalis Syndrome. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is an established technique that provides an alternative to prenatal diagnosis for patients who are at risk of transmitting serious genetic disorder to their offspring.