Third-trimester erythrocytapheresis in pregnant patients with sickle cell disease

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of prophylactic transfusion by means of erythrocytapheresis at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy in women with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods A cohort of 14 pregnant women with SCD who received prophylactic erythrocytapheresis transfusions at the beginning of the third trimester was retrospectively compared with a cohort of 17 pregnant women who received simple prophylactic transfusions for no indication other than SCD severity. Results Prophylactic erythrocytapheresis transfusions were associated with a lower risk of intrauterine growth restriction (OR, 0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.01–1.00) and oligohydramnios (OR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.45–0.92) in pregnant women with SCD. Conclusion These results suggest that erythrocytapheresis transfusions are beneficial in women with SCD who are in the third trimester of pregnancy. Given the decrease in transfusion risks, this therapy deserves further evaluation in future trials.