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Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) in pregnancy increases maternal and perinatal morbidity, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We report three Hb SS cases managed in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Case A, 31 years, had vaso-occlusive crisis, severe anemia, and sepsis causing fetal demise but survived. Case B, 27 years, developed acute chest syndrome and died post-cesarean delivery. Case C, 35 years, presented with placenta previa at term, underwent an emergency cesarean delivery, developed postoperative chest pain, and died suddenly. None had hematology follow-up. Infection, anemia, and surgical stress were key triggers. Multidisciplinary care and vigilant peripartum management are crucial to reduce SCD-related pregnancy mortality.
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References
- 1. Mangla A, Agarwal N, Maruvada S. Sickle Cell Anemia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 [cited 2025 Sept 15]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482164/
- 2. WHO issues first global guideline to improve pregnancy care for women with sickle cell disease [Internet]. [cited 2025 Sept 15]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/19-06-2025-who-issues-first-global-guideline-to-improve-pregnancy-care-for-women-with-sickle-cell-disease
- 3. Olukunle TA, Ogunbode OO, Abdus-Salam RA. PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN WOMEN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN NIGERIA: A FIVE-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY. Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2024 Aug 30;22(2):18–25.
- 4. Hussein K, Gwer S, Ochieng W, Tolo SO, Munialo VL, Ngala D. Pregnancy Outcomes of Mothers with Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Review of Patients Seeking Delivery Services in a Regional Referral Hospital, Western Kenya. East Afr j health sci. 2025 Mar 28;8(1):204–11.
- 5. Wilson NO, Ceesay FK, Hibbert JM, Driss A, Obed SA, Adjei AA, et al. Pregnancy Outcomes among Patients with Sickle Cell Disease at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: Retrospective Cohort Study. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2012 June 1;86(6):936–42.
- 6. Mian DB, Angoi VA, Nsahlai CJ, Konan J, Yeo KH, N’Guessan K, et al. Major Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnant Women at University Teaching Hospital of Cocody in Cote d’Ivoire, a Low Resources Country. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Dec 29;51(1):1.
- 7. Nkwabong E, Ngoundjou Dongmo P, Tayou C, Nana Njamen T. Outcome of pregnancies among women with sickle cell disease. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2022 Mar 19;35(6):1108–12.
- 8. Adigwe OP, Onoja SO, Onavbavba G. A Critical Review of Sickle Cell Disease Burden and Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Blood Medicine. 2023 Dec 31;14(null):367–76.
- 9. Henri E, Valere MK, Lucas EE, Calixte PI, Ngalame CM, Grâce TT, et al. Hematological Profile and Risk Factors of Anemia in Pregnant Women: A Cross Sectional Descriptive and Analytical Study in Douala Cameroon. OJOG. 2019;09(07):968–80.
- 10. Sousa VTD, Ballas SK, Leite JM, Olivato MCA, Cancado RD. Maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with sickle cell disease: an update. Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy. 2022 July;44(3):369–73.
- 11. Lovelyn ONA, Florence UC, Chima MM, Obi NB, Isioma ES, Chinedu AB, et al. Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): A Tertiary Centre Retrospective Study in Nigeria. JAMMR. 2023 May 19;35(14):61–71.
- 12. Figueira CO, Guida JPS, Surita FG, Antolini-Tavares A, Saad ST, Costa FF, et al. Sickle cell disease and increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in different genotypes. Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy. 2024 Nov;46:S189–96.
- 13. Asare EV, DeBaun MR, Olayemi E, Boafor T, Oppong SA. Acute pain episodes, acute chest syndrome, and pulmonary thromboembolism in pregnancy. Hematology. 2022 Dec 9;2022(1):388–407.
References
1. Mangla A, Agarwal N, Maruvada S. Sickle Cell Anemia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 [cited 2025 Sept 15]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482164/
2. WHO issues first global guideline to improve pregnancy care for women with sickle cell disease [Internet]. [cited 2025 Sept 15]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/19-06-2025-who-issues-first-global-guideline-to-improve-pregnancy-care-for-women-with-sickle-cell-disease
3. Olukunle TA, Ogunbode OO, Abdus-Salam RA. PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN WOMEN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN NIGERIA: A FIVE-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY. Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2024 Aug 30;22(2):18–25.
4. Hussein K, Gwer S, Ochieng W, Tolo SO, Munialo VL, Ngala D. Pregnancy Outcomes of Mothers with Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Review of Patients Seeking Delivery Services in a Regional Referral Hospital, Western Kenya. East Afr j health sci. 2025 Mar 28;8(1):204–11.
5. Wilson NO, Ceesay FK, Hibbert JM, Driss A, Obed SA, Adjei AA, et al. Pregnancy Outcomes among Patients with Sickle Cell Disease at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: Retrospective Cohort Study. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2012 June 1;86(6):936–42.
6. Mian DB, Angoi VA, Nsahlai CJ, Konan J, Yeo KH, N’Guessan K, et al. Major Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnant Women at University Teaching Hospital of Cocody in Cote d’Ivoire, a Low Resources Country. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Dec 29;51(1):1.
7. Nkwabong E, Ngoundjou Dongmo P, Tayou C, Nana Njamen T. Outcome of pregnancies among women with sickle cell disease. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2022 Mar 19;35(6):1108–12.
8. Adigwe OP, Onoja SO, Onavbavba G. A Critical Review of Sickle Cell Disease Burden and Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Blood Medicine. 2023 Dec 31;14(null):367–76.
9. Henri E, Valere MK, Lucas EE, Calixte PI, Ngalame CM, Grâce TT, et al. Hematological Profile and Risk Factors of Anemia in Pregnant Women: A Cross Sectional Descriptive and Analytical Study in Douala Cameroon. OJOG. 2019;09(07):968–80.
10. Sousa VTD, Ballas SK, Leite JM, Olivato MCA, Cancado RD. Maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with sickle cell disease: an update. Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy. 2022 July;44(3):369–73.
11. Lovelyn ONA, Florence UC, Chima MM, Obi NB, Isioma ES, Chinedu AB, et al. Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): A Tertiary Centre Retrospective Study in Nigeria. JAMMR. 2023 May 19;35(14):61–71.
12. Figueira CO, Guida JPS, Surita FG, Antolini-Tavares A, Saad ST, Costa FF, et al. Sickle cell disease and increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in different genotypes. Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy. 2024 Nov;46:S189–96.
13. Asare EV, DeBaun MR, Olayemi E, Boafor T, Oppong SA. Acute pain episodes, acute chest syndrome, and pulmonary thromboembolism in pregnancy. Hematology. 2022 Dec 9;2022(1):388–407.