Sickle Cell Crises in Pregnancy: Fetal and Neonatal Implications

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited condition worldwide. In the United States, SCD affects 100,000 births every year, mostly persons of African descent. In SCD, red blood cells assume a sickle shape when deoxygenated. This leads to the occlusion of small blood vessels and decreased oxygenated blood flow, resulting in ischemic and thrombotic injury to various organs, which further leads to organ dysfunction. In pregnancy, patients with SCD are at an increased risk of vaso-occlusive crises, which further increases the risks of maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality.