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Updated: Jun 20, 2025
A Precision Medicine Tool for Measurement and Monitoring of Hemoglobin S in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Receiving Transfusion Therapy
Outcome of pregnancy in sickle cell anemia patients with COVID-19 infection
Vaidyanathan Gowri1, Tamima Al Dughaishi1, Deepti Geetha1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Insights
Pregnant women with sickle cell anemia (SCA) generally experience mild COVID-19 symptoms. While outcomes are satisfactory, COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may lead to lower birth weights in SCA patients.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
Background:
- Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a complex multisystem disorder increasing risks for infection and thromboembolic events.
- Pregnancy poses an additional physiological stressor for individuals with SCA.
- Data on pregnant individuals with SCA experiencing COVID-19 is limited.
Observation:
- A case series study documented pregnant women with SCA who tested positive for COVID-19 between May 2020 and March 2021.
- These patients predominantly presented with fever and painful crises, indicative of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 illness.
- A notable decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) levels from baseline was observed in these patients.
Findings:
- Pregnant individuals with SCA infected with COVID-19 generally experienced mild to moderate disease.
- Management included low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis and blood transfusions.
- Pregnancy outcomes were satisfactory, despite a statistically significant reduction in mean birth weight compared to the general SCA population.
Implications:
- COVID-19 infection in pregnant individuals with SCA appears manageable with supportive care and interventions like LMWH and transfusions.
- The observed decrease in birth weight warrants further investigation and highlights potential risks for fetal growth in this population.
- This case series contributes valuable data on the intersection of SCA, pregnancy, and COVID-19, informing clinical management and future research.
Abstract:
Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a multisystem disease, associated with increased risk for infection and thromboembolic disease, and pregnancy is a stressor for patients with SCA. In general, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in SCA is associated with a favorable outcome. Literature of pregnancy in SCA with COVID is scarce. We report a case series study of pregnant women with SCA, who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 from May 2020 to March 2021. These patients showed generally mild-to-moderate disease and presented predominantly with fever and painful crisis. They showed a significant drop in Hb from baseline, and they received low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis (LMWH) and blood transfusion. The outcome of pregnancy is satisfactory, although the mean birth weight was significantly lower than that reported from the same SCA population.
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