PREGNANT WOMEN WITH SICKLE CELL ANEMIA AND ITS COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a condition that results in the structural alteration of hemoglobin. Considered one of the most prevalent genetic diseases in Brazil, especially due to the genetic characteristics of the Brazilian population, it is characterized by mutations that lead to the substitution of Thymine (T) nitrogenous bases for Adenine (A). This results in the exchange of the amino acid Glutamic for Valine at position six of the Beta chain of hemoglobin. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the complications that occur in pregnant women with sickle cell anemia. METHODOLOGY: This is a literature review conducted through exploration in the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) and Nursing Database (BDENF) databases. Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) were used combined with the boolean operator AND, following the following approach: (Pregnant Women) AND (Anemia) AND (Pregnancy Complications), resulting in a total of 187 papers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Pregnancy in women with sickle cell anemia can pose a significant challenge, leading to concerns and insecurities. Nevertheless, many women seek to fulfill the desire for motherhood, which requires a multiprofessional approach to ensure adequate care during childbirth and the puerperium. CONCLUSION: Ultimately, a thorough understanding of the complications associated with pregnancy in women with sickle cell anemia is essential for the development of more effective prevention and management strategies, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes for these women and their babies.