Abstract
Eighteen Egyptian females with β-thalassaemia major were closely followed up over a 6-year period for the evaluation of their pregnancy outcome under 2 different types of transfusion regime. In the first 3 years during which the haemoglobin level of all the gravidas was maintained by minimal transfusions at a mean value of 6.6 g/100 ml, the overall reproductive wastage was 34.5% and 4 mothers developed complications. When maternal haemoglobin was maintained during the following 3-year period at a level above 10 g/100 ml, the overall reproductive wastage dropped to 13.6%, and virtually no maternal complications developed. The high transfusion regime used to maintain this high maternal haemoglobin level was well tolerated and except for 1 case of serum hepatitis, no serious side effects were recorded.