Prenatal Diagnosis of sickle cell disease

PERENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE

1. Sickle cell disorder is the commonest single gene disorder among blacks.
2. Sickle cell disease gene is found in about 25-50% of Nigerian Population.
3. About 100,00 children are born annually with a serious Sickle cell disorder children.
4. If the mother and the baby’s father both carry the gene for sickle cell, for each baby there is:
5. A 25% (one in four) a chance that the baby will not be affected (that is, will not carry a disorder) a 50% (two in four) chance that the baby will be a carrier and a 25% (one in four) chance that the baby will have a disorder.

1. The chance of passing the gene to the unborn child be detected as early as 11 weeks of pregnancy, through either chorionic villous sampling or amniocentesis.

1. Early pregnancy diagnosis guarantees the peace of mind of a normal child down syndrome, Trisomy 18/13, and ONTD screening protocol in the first trimester and the combination of free Beta HCG and PAPP-A offers the best screening.