Fetal Complications and Pregnancy Conditions

Anemia

• Iron deficiency anemia, chronic inflammation, sideroblastic anemia, and hereditary hemochromatosis are types of anemia.
• Iron storage, metabolism, and incorporation are related to anemia.

Hereditary Hemochromatosis

• Homozygous and heterozygous forms exist.
• Causes damage.

Laboratory Diagnosis

• Tests include evaluation of heme synthesis, free protoporphyrin, serum transferrin receptors, and bone marrow evaluation.

Sideroblastic Anemia

• Homozygous and heterozygous hereditary hemochromatosis are causes.

B-Cell-Related Disorders

• Lymphoproliferative neoplasms, such as B-lymphocyte lymphomas, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, can cause immune-mediated anemia.

Thalassemia

• Beta thalassemia has severe, moderate, and silent forms.
• Heterozygous individuals are silent carriers.
• Moderate forms have microcytic and hypochromic RBCs and elevated HbA2 levels.
• Severe forms have genetic mutations, affecting beta-globin chain production.

Alpha-Thalassemia

• Mutations can be large deletions, leading to no alpha-chain production.
• Silent carriers have a normal hematological profile.
• Heterozygous individuals have slight decreases in alpha-chain production.
• Homozygous individuals have a lethal condition due to the absence of alpha-chain production.

Thalassemia Trait

• Can be heterozygous or homozygous.
• Asymptomatic with microcytic and hypochromic RBCs.

HbH Disease

• Tetramers of beta-chains accumulate, causing anemia, edema, ascites, and hepatosplenomegaly.
• Fetal death can occur due to anemia.
• Adults have balanced beta-chain production, but no HbH.