Types of Anemia in Pregnancy: A Single Center Study

Abstract

Mohammad Shabih Haider, Mobina Ahsan Dodhy, Syed Iqbal Haider, Javeria Qaiser, Maliha Batool Bukhari and Saadia Muzafar

Objective: To calculate the frequency of various types of anaemias in pregnancy.

Study Design: It was a cross-sectional study carried out at Department of Pathology, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi from November 2024 to October 2025.

Methodology: A total of 45 patients with gestational amenorrhea with Hb less than 12 g/dl were included in the study. Complete blood count (CBC) test was done on Sysmex KX-21 automated haematology analyzer. Peripheral blood was stained with Giemsa stain and examined under microscope to see and report RBC morphology. Serum ferritin was done for confirmation of iron deficiency anaemia. Serum B12 and folate levels were done for confirmation of megaloblastic anaemia. Coombs test was done for confirmation of autoimmune hemolytic anaemia. Hb electrophoresis was done in selective cases to rule out thalassemia trait. Iron defiency anaemia was diagnosed as microcytic hypochromic anaemia with decreased serum ferritin levels. Megaloblastic anaemia was diagnosed as macrocytic anaemia with decreased Serum B12 or folate levels. Autoimmune hemolytic anaemia was diagnosed as anaemia with raised reticulocyte count and positive direct Coombs test. All cases excluding these were labelled as physiological anaemia in pregnancy.

Results: 45 pregnant women were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 28.4 ± 5.5, Mean Hb was 9.8 ± 1.2, Mean RBC were 3.7 ± 0.6, Mean TLC was 8.3 ± 4.0, Mean platelet count was 226 ± 114, mean MCV was 78.9 ± 9.2, mean MCH was 28.0 ± 8.4, mean MCHC was 31.3 ± 3.4, mean retic count was 1.9 ± 0.5, mean serum ferritin levels were 32.9 ± 47.2, mean serum B12 levels were 213.2 ± 49.2, mean folate levels were 6.9 ± 2.5. Iron defiency anemia was present in 19 patients (42%), Vitamin B12 defiency was present in 3 patients (6%) and folate deficiency was present in 3 patients (6%). 2 patients presented with B thalassemia trait (3%). None of the patient presented with autoimmune hemolytic anaemia in our study population. 18 patients (40%) were having physiological anaemia due to dilution.

Conclusion: Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy is the most common cause of anaemia in pregnancy in our study population followed by physiological anaemia and then Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia and B Thalassemia trait. By early detection the morbidity in these patients can be reduced and quality of life can be improved.

PDF