Part 3: Hemoglobinopathies
Katharine Batt, MD, MSc, and Thomas Reske, MD
Dr. Batt is a fellow in Hematology/Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital New York, NY, and Dr. Reske is a fellow in Hematology/Oncology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA
Question 3
A 31-year-old woman was diagnosed with thalassemia trait (-α/-α) in your office around 1 year ago. At that time, she was referred by the ED for workup of anemia. She immigrated to the United States 3 months prior to her initial visit a year ago. She has Mediterranean ancestry. The patient has a baseline mild microcytic hypochromic anemia and is currently asymptomatic but presents with a request for risk stratification. During your interview, the patient reveals her plans of marriage to a man with Italian ancestry. The fiancé has a familial history of a Mediterranean blood disorder. The woman is 3 weeks' pregnant and is concerned about the possibility of hematologic problems in her child. What is the next step in managing this patient?
