Feasibility of In-utero Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation as a Conjunctive Treatment During In-utero Blood Transfusion for Hemoglobin Bart's Hydrops Fetalis Syndrome in Hong Kong
This is a prospective observational pilot study on pregnant women who are diagnosed to have Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome (BHFS) affected fetuses and opt for continuation of pregnancy will be invited to consider undergoing in-utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation under a research protocol, aiming to determine whether in-utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for fetuses with confirmed BHFS at the time of in-utero transfusion (IUT) of red blood cells could be feasible in Hong Kong. The participants will undergo bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells harvest and an IUT combined with maternal stem cells.
• Pregnancy before 26 weeks and 0 day of gestational age with a diagnosis of BHFS confirmed by chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis or cordocentesis;
• The parents elected to pursue IUT and are willing to undergo subsequent IUT for the remainder of gestation.