b-Thal Pregnancy Plan (GTG 2014)

Pre-Conception

Annual clinic review should include discussion of family planning

Screen for end organ damage

Aggressive iron chelation preconception reduces end-organ damage

Diabetes common in b-Thal – HbA1c <43 mmol/mol for 3 months prior to conception

TFT – ensure euthyroid

Cardiac – ECG, Echo and T2* MRI

Liver iron – Ferriscan, ideally liver iron should be <7mg per gram of dry weight

Abdo USS – gallstones, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis

Bone density – Offer bone density scan and ensure vitamin D replaced

Vaccination

Hep B vaccine (+ Hib and pneumococcus if hyposplenic)

Pen V prophylaxis if hyposplenic

Review Medication

Folic acid 5mg daily

Discontinue teratogenic medications

Stop deferiprone and deferasirox 3 months prior to conception

Avoid desferrioxamine in 1st trimester. Can be used safely at low doses after 20 weeks

Stop bisphosphonates 3 months prior to conception

Haemoglobinopathy screening

Screen partner

Offer IVF/ICSI with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to avoid homozygous / compound heterozygous pregnancies if both partners have significant hbpathy.

Antenatal

Schedule

Monthly review to 28 weeks then fortnightly

Monthly HbA1c if diabetes

Cardiac assessment at 28 weeks if b-Thal Major

Scans

Offer viability scan at 7-9 weeks

Routine 1st trimester scan at 11-14 weeks

Routine anomaly scan at 20 weeks

Additional monthly growth scans from 24 weeks

Transfusion

If b-Thal Major , regular transfusion to maintain pre-transfusion Hb >100g/l

b-Thal Intermedia, start transfusion if worsening maternal anaemia or growth restriction

Thromboprophylaxis

Splenectomy or Plt >600 – Aspirin

Splenectomy & Plt >600 – Aspirin + LMWH

Intrapartum

If known red cell antibodies, crossmatch blood for delivery in advance

Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring is recommended (increased risk of fetal distress)

b-Thal Major – desferrioxamine should be infused during labour

Active management of third stage of labour to reduce blood loss

Postpartum

Consider as high risk for thrombosis

Breast feeding is safe