What impact does thalassemia in pregnant women have on the fetus?
Dec 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
Thalassemia is a hereditary disease. The impact of maternal thalassemia on the fetus is closely related to the severity of the mother's condition and whether the father carries thalassemia, as follows: If the pregnant woman has mild thalassemia and the father is normal, the fetus will be either normal or a carrier, with no significant effect on the fetus. If the pregnant woman has mild thalassemia and the father also has mild thalassemia.
How does thalassemia in pregnant women affect the fetus?
How does thalassemia in pregnant women affect the fetus?
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder. The impact of maternal thalassemia on the fetus is closely related to the severity of the mother's condition and whether the father also carries thalassemia, as follows: If the mother has mild thalassemia and the father is unaffected, the fetus will either be normal or a carrier, with no significant adverse effects. If both parents have mild thalassemia, there is a 50% chance the fetus will be normal and a 50% chance it will have mild or moderate thalassemia, which may have some impact on the fetus. If both the mother and father have moderate thalassemia, the fetus has a high risk of developing severe thalassemia, which can seriously impair fetal growth and development and may even lead to intrauterine death.
The diagnosis of thalassemia during pregnancy is not caused by pregnancy itself or other external factors, but because the woman already has thalassemia. Thalassemia is a genetic disease—an inherited, congenital condition. Individuals affected by thalassemia are born with the disease. Currently, there is no effective cure for thalassemia, and treatment mainly involves blood transfusions when necessary. Pregnant women with thalassemia can pass the condition to their offspring with a certain probability.
Therefore, if thalassemia is detected during pregnancy, it is essential to have regular ultrasound examinations at the hospital and follow medical guidance for appropriate management. We hope this information is helpful to you. Wishing you good health and happiness!
