Iron stores in pregnant women with sickle cell disease: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

What is it about?

Improved management of sickle cell disease has seen an increase in number of women with the disease reaching reproductive age. Management of pregnant sicklers is thus taking the stage. Iron deficiency anaemia often seen in pregnancy and iron overload which is thought to be common amongst people with sickle cell disease poses a dilemma on whether to supplement iron to pregnant sicklers. Iron supplementation in pregnant sicklers in a bid to resolve iron deficiency anaemia is recommended only after laboratory confirmation of iron deficiency. However, the greatest burden of sickle cell disease is seen in low and middle income countries where equipment for measuring body iron indices are unavailable. In this study protocol, we aimed to review published data on iron stores among pregnant women with sickle cell disease and hence provide recommendations for supplementing iron.

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