INTRODUCTION

Sickle cell disease is known to be a leading cause of local indirect maternal mortality and may also have adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes. The aim of the study is to determine if pregnant women with the sickle cell trait (HbAS) have increased rates of intrauterine growth restriction and abnormal Doppler velocimetry findings when compared to a control group with normal hemoglobin (HbAA).

METHODS

We recruited 58 age-matched antenatal clinic attendees from 18 weeks gestation until delivery. At 18-22 weeks gestation and 28-32 weeks gestation maternal and fetal sonographic biometric measurements, umbilical artery pulsatility indices, fetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices and uterine artery pulsatility indices were measured. Descriptive analyses using student’s T-test, chi square testing and contingency table analysis were performed.

RESULTS

The sickle cell trait group higher uterine artery pulsatility indices (p value 0.017), lower fetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices (p value <0.0001), higher systolic blood pressures with advancing gestational age (p value 0.009), higher diastolic blood pressures with advancing gestational age (p value 0.001), and higher prevalence of leukocyturia (p value 0.039).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest no significant difference in maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with the sickle cell trait compared with those without the trait.