Prevention and Control of Severe Thalassemia in Pregnancy at Phayao Hospital-การควบคุมและป้องกันโรคธาลัสซีเมียในสตรีตั้งครรภ์ที่โรงพยาบาลพะเยา

Abstract

          Prevention and control of severe thalassemia in pregnancy was important to public health in Thailand in order to limit its incidence. In that connection, it had been implemented locally by Phayao hospital since 2002.  This descriptive study quantified new cases of pregnant women at a prenatal care unit from 1 May 2002 to 30 September 2007.  Strategies adopted were counselling, screening and confirmation test for thalassemia carriers to identify couples at risk, cordocentesis and termination of pregnancy. Results showed 5,937 new cases of pregnant women resulting in 1,616 cases of positive screening test (27.2%), 135 couples at risk (2.3%). Of which  67 cases underwent cordocentesis and 20 cases had severe thalassemia - beta-thalassemia/HbE (11 cases), homozygous beta-thalassemia (2 cases) and HbBartีs Hydrops fetalis (7 cases).  As such, 17 cases of them underwent termination of pregnancy.  The benefit to cost ratio was 22 :1. Even some new cases of severe thalassemia could be identified, improvement of this program should be carried on.

Key words:      thalassemia, pregnant women, couple at risk