Sickle Cell Anemia in Pregnancy

Pregnancy Pearls · Oct 22, 2021 · 30m

Sickle cell anemia, also called sickle cell disease, is an inherited condition that causes sickling of red blood cells. These sickled cell aren’t able to carry oxygen effectively to tissues in the body. As a result of lack of oxygen to tissues and damage to vessels by the sickled cells, patients with the disease experience pain crises and organ damage (including heart attacks and strokes). Sickle cell anemia is most commonly found in African Americans and can cause several complications in pregnancy. About 1:12 Black people are asymptomatic carriers for the sickle cell trait and might not…