Sickle cell thalassemia in pregnancy : a case report

A 31-year-old pregnant woman at 20 weeks' gestation was sent to our hospital for fever, anemia, and arthralgias. As she was known to be a double heterozygote for beta-thalassemia and hemoglobin S, a diagnosis of hemolytic anemia caused by sickled red cells vasocclusive crises was made. The patient was submitted to partial exchange transfusion (PET) with a complete recovery. A second PET was performed at 36 weeks' gestation, and elective cesarean section was performed at 37 weeks, with the birth of a normal female neonate.