Neonatal outcomes and related risk factors of 30 cases with aplastic anemia in pregnancy: A retrospective study

To analyze the neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by aplastic anemia (AA) and to investigate the underlying risk factors.

A single-center retrospective study was performed. Thirty singleton gravidas with AA (AA group) and another thirty singleton gravidas (control group) without immune or blood system disorders who gave birth around the same time were selected. Neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Meanwhile, multivariable analyses were utilized to investigate the association between underlying risk factors and adverse neonatal events.

No neonatal deaths occurred. Compared to the control group, the offspring of women with AA had a smaller gestational age (36 ± 1.9 vs. 39.1 ± 0.9 weeks; P < 0.001) and birth weight (2683.7 ± 479.9 vs. 3324.3 ± 394.1 g; P < 0.001). Newborns of women with AA had a higher risk of premature delivery (53.3 % vs. 3.3 %; P < 0.001), low birth weight (23.3 % vs. 0 %; P < 0.001) and NICU admission (53.3 % vs. 16.7 %; P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia as risk factors for premature delivery and admission to NICU. Anemia was independently associated with low birth weight (OR 0.94, 95 % CI 0.9-0.98, P = 0.01).

Neonatal complications such as premature delivery, low birth weight and NICU admission are more common in pregnant women with AA. Newborn babies' s hematopoietic system did not appear to have been affected. Maintaining a certain level of neutrophils, hemoglobin, and platelets in the mother can improve newborn outcomes.