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A Case of Babesiosis in a Pregnant Patient Treated with Red Blood Cell Exchange Transfusion
Baruch Abittan1, Aaron Nizam1, Michael Oey2
1Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, USA.
Babesiosis, caused predominantly by Babesia microti, is an emerging health risk in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. We present a case of a pregnant woman with history of splenectomy diagnosed with babesiosis at 23 5/7 weeks of gestational age refractory to antimicrobial therapy. She underwent the first reported red blood cell exchange transfusion for babesiosis in pregnancy, at 24 4/7 weeks of gestational age, which resulted in resolution of parasitemia. She had a full term, uncomplicated cesarean delivery. Exchange transfusion is potentially a safe treatment option for severe babesiosis infection in pregnancy and should be considered when other methods are poorly tolerated or ineffective.
Babesiosis, caused predominantly by Babesia microti, is an emerging health risk in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. We present a case of a pregnant woman with history of splenectomy diagnosed with babesiosis at 23 5/7 weeks of gestational age refractory to antimicrobial therapy. She underwent the first reported red blood cell exchange transfusion for babesiosis in pregnancy, at 24 4/7 weeks of gestational age, which resulted in resolution of parasitemia. She had a full term, uncomplicated cesarean delivery. Exchange transfusion is potentially a safe treatment option for severe babesiosis infection in pregnancy and should be considered when other methods are poorly tolerated or ineffective.
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