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Pre-eclampsia Ignored Due to Sickle Cell Disease
24 Aug
Summary
- Pregnancy symptoms were overlooked and attributed solely to sickle cell disease.
- Pre-eclampsia was diagnosed late, necessitating an emergency Caesarean section.
- The patient calls for urgent research and increased awareness of sickle cell disease.
A 28-year-old mother from Manchester, Grace, recounted a harrowing pregnancy where her symptoms of pre-eclampsia were allegedly overlooked because of her pre-existing sickle cell disease (SCD). She described her second trimester as physically taxing, marked by severe pain.
It was only upon admission to St Mary's Hospital's sickle cell disease unit that she received a pre-eclampsia diagnosis. This condition, characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy, required an emergency Caesarean section for delivery.
Grace asserts that her concerns were dismissed, with medical staff attributing all her symptoms to SCD. She highlights that pregnancy with SCD is high-risk, increasing the likelihood of serious health issues.
Now, Grace is a vocal advocate for increased research and awareness of SCD, urging pregnant women with the condition to be proactive and vocal about their health. Her daughter, Lana, who is two years old, has inherited the trait for SCD but does not have the disease itself.
