A study of prevalence of thalassemia in antenatal patients in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Delhi – A 1998 scenario

Abstract

The haemoglobinopathies are autosomal recessive inherited disorders of haemoglobin synthesis (thalassaemias) or structure (sickle cell disorders) that are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality on a worldwide scale. Screening is necessary in pregnancy because of the complications to mother as well as fetus. NESTROFT is a suitable test for screening for beta-thalassaemia and the common haemoglobinopathies seen in India. But HPLC remains the gold standard for detection of thalaseemia. Pregnancy thalaseemias should be considered a high-risk pregnancy and requires proper antenatal and postpartum management with follow up of fetal outcome.