Anaemia among females in child-bearing age: Relative contributions, effects and interactions of α- and β-thalassaemia

EmAnemia na Grávida, Artigo cientificoPorPaulo Baptista

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PLoS One. 2018 Nov 2;13(11):e0206928. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206928. eCollection 2018.

Anaemia among females in child-bearing age: Relative contributions, effects and interactions of α- and β-thalassaemia.

Mettananda S^1,², Suranjan M¹, Fernando R¹, Dias T^2,³, Mettananda C⁴, Rodrigo R⁵, Perera L⁵, Gibbons R⁶, Premawardhena A^2,⁵, Higgs D⁶.

Author information

^{1 – Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.}
^{2 – Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka.}
^{3 – Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.}
^{4 – Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.}
^{5 – Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.}
^{6 – MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.}

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Anaemia in women during pregnancy and child bearing age is one of the most common global health problems. Reasons are numerous, but in many cases only minimal attempts are made to elucidate the underlying causes. In this study we aim to identify aetiology of anaemia in women of child bearing age and to determine the relative contributions, effects and interactions of α- and β-thalassaemia in a region of the world where thalassaemia is endemic.

METHODS:

A cross sectional study was conducted at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital of Sri Lanka. The patient database of deliveries between January 2015 and September 2016 at University Obstetrics Unit was screened to identify women with anaemia during pregnancy and 253 anaemic females were randomly re-called for the study. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and haematological investigations were done to identify aetiologies.

RESULTS:

Out of the 253 females who were anaemic during pregnancy and were re-called, 8 were excluded due to being currently pregnant. Of the remaining 245 females, 117(47.8%) remained anaemic and another 22(9.0%) had non-anaemic microcytosis. Of anaemic females, 28(24.8%) were iron deficient, 40(35.4%) had low-normal serum ferritin without fulfilling the criteria for iron deficiency,18(15.3%) had β-haemoglobinopathy trait and 20(17.0%) had α-thalassaemia trait. Of females who had non-anaemic microcytosis, 14(66.0%) had α-thalassaemia trait. In 4 females, both α- and β-thalassaemia trait coexist. These females had higher levels of haemoglobin (p = 0.06), MCV (p<0.05) and MCH (p<0.01) compared to individuals with only β-thalassaemia trait. A significantly higher proportion of premature births (p<0.01) and lower mean birth weights (p<0.05) were observed in patients with α-thalassaemia trait.

CONCLUSIONS:

Nearly one third of anaemic females in child bearing age had thalassaemia trait of which α-thalassemia contributes to a majority. Both α- and β-thalassaemia trait can co-exist and have ameliorating effects on red cell indices in heterozygous states. α-Thalassaemia trait was significantly associated with premature births and low birth weight. It is of paramount importance to investigate the causes of anaemia in women of child bearing age and during pregnancy in addition to providing universal iron supplementation.

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