Abstract
Forty women with a major sickle hemoglobinopathy (hemoglobin SS, SC, or S-β-thalassemia) were given red blood cell transfusions prophylactically during pregnancy. A mean of 13.6 units of erythrocytes per woman was given and none received more than 28 units. Direct-vision needle biopsy of the liver was performed in conjunction with cesarean section or puerperal sterilization. Although iron deposition in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells was identified commonly, neither cirrhosis nor widespread hepatocellular necrosis was found. We conclude that the risk of irreversible hepatic damage is negligible in women with sickle hemoglobinopathies who are given erythrocytes prophylactically during one pregnancy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 958-964 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American journal of obstetrics and gynecology |
Volume | 163 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1990 |
Keywords
- Sickle cell disease
- liver histopathology
- pregnancy
- prophylactic blood transfusions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology