BACKGROUND:

About 7% of pregnant women have some type of hemoglobinopathy including beta-thalassemia which corresponds to an alteration of the beta chains of the hemoglobin molecule. The treatment of these patients is with multiple blood transfusions, with the risk of alloimmunization.

CLINICAL CASE:

29-year-old patient with a diagnosis of beta-thalassemia minor seen in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department in her first pregnancy, with recurrent severe anemic syndrome. She was transfused 7 globular packets, cause of irregular low-frequency anti-E alloantibody. The pregnancy was terminated at 39 weeks by cesarean section, with a live male newborn of 3550 g, Apgar 9-9, without complications. At 35 years of age, she had the second pregnancy which during its evolution required the transfusion of phenotyped blood with nine erythrocyte concentrates. The pregnancy was terminated by cesarean section at 38 weeks, with birth of a girl of 3220 g, Apgar 8-9, without risks or complications for the mother and her daughter.

CONCLUSION:

The prevention of alloimmunization in the treatment of pregnant women with beta-thalassemia minor consists of establishing the phenotype of the red blood cells to determine systems other than the traditional AB0 or Rh, to avoid sensitization reactions and production of alloantibodies which, if they cross the placental barrier, could cause an immune response in the fetus due to maternal-fetal incompatibility.