Pregnancy complicated by hemoglobin CC and C-β-thalassemia disease

The outcomes of 72 pregnancies in 20 women with either hemoglobin CC or C-β-thalassemia are described. Except for mild to moderate hemolytic anemia, maternal complications caused by the hemoglobinopathy were infrequent and perinatal outcomes were generally good. In eight women, blood volume expansion determined by⁵¹chromium-tagged erythrocytes was similar to that for normally pregnant women. Mean red-cell survival was determined 11 times in eight women, and the red-cell half-life of 22 days was significantly shorter than that of 35 days for normally pregnant women.