Sickle cell disease in pregnancy research sees student published
Year 5 Student Doctor Sivarajini Inparaj was the first author on a paper looking at pulmonary complications for women with sickle cell disease in pregnancy.
Sivarajini has a strong interest in Obstetric and Gynaecological health and chose to intercalate last year at King’s College London in Women's Health. As part of her intercalation, she undertook a Maternal Health project, which is where she began her research into pulmonary complications for women with sickle cell disease in pregnancy. Her research has now been published in the BMJ Journal, Thorax.
Sivarajini told us:
"Sickle cell disease is among the most common single-gene defect globally characterised by vaso-occlusive crises, chronic anaemia and multi-system disease with a shorter life expectancy. In developed and some developing countries, women are living until reproductive age and contemplating pregnancy.
Pulmonary complications such as acute chest syndrome, pulmonary embolus, pulmonary hypertension and pneumonia in pregnancy are all significant causes of maternal mortality. Thus, I undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of sickle cell disease and its associated pulmonary complications, prevention and management modality to contribute to the literature in reducing severe morbidity and mortality of the condition in pregnancy."
I found that pregnancies with sickle cell disease are associated with an almost eight-fold increased risk of pulmonary thromboembolism and a prevalence of 6.5% for acute chest syndrome and pneumonia."
Sivarajini told us that although she was apprehensive about embarking upon such a large piece of research, she was happy with how she felt once she'd completed it:
With the help of such a supportive, encouraging and inspiring team, I worked my way towards a finished dissertation which has now been published.
"Sometimes I was unsure of what I was meant to be doing but it became clearer throughout the dissertation process and is even clearer in hindsight (as it always is!). The dissertation was the toughest part of the degree.
Having to understand and apply the taught programme in a coherent, structured way is easier said than done. It is challenging, but the sense of achievement when you see your name on a publication is great."