MRCOG Part 2 Mini Combo – Thalassaemia in Pregnancy SBA GTG No 66

1. A patient with beta thalassemia is seen in preconception clinic. She is known to be diabetic. What is the optimum test for monitoring diabetes in patients with beta thalassaemia?

2. A 28 year old year patient with beta thalassemia presents to the EPU. She is 8 weeks pregnant. You note she has had a splenectomy. Her current platelet count is 450 x 103/ml. What would you advise regarding thromboprophylaxis?

3. A 23-year-old woman with β-thalassaemia major attends the antenatal clinic at 8 weeks of gestation. Cardiac function tests performed 12 weeks ago were normal. She has had a splenectomy. Her current blood test results are:
Haemoglobin 105 g/l
Platelets 650 × 109/l
Serum fructosamine 275 mmol/l
What antenatal thromboprophylaxis would be recommended?

4. A 27 year old Asian woman in her first pregnancy is known to have thalassemia major. She is 28 weeks pregnant. She comes to the emergency department with shortness of breath that has rapidly deteriorated. Despite resuscitation, she died within 20 minutes. What is the most likely cause of death?

5. Which of the following statements regarding contemporary management of B thalassemia major is true: