ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION- Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia syndromes, especially beta thalassemia trait (BTT), are the two most commonly ccuring microcytic hypochromic anemias highly prevalent in countries like India. Iron deficiency anemia is the first most common cause of anemia in pregnancy, beta thalassemia trait is the second most frequent cause of anemia of pregnancy. Patients with thalassemia trait shows an increased incidence of anemia during the second trimester of pregnancy. Beta Thalassemia Trait (BTT) patients are usually asymptomatic and ignorant of their carrier state unless diagnosed by testing. Screening for thalassemia can be done by measuring HbA2 levels MATERIAL AND METHOD- This is a retrospective study. The data were collected from a clinic and associated st pathology in Shivpuri and a private maternity hospital in Gwalior from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2021. 94 patients were included in the study. All pregnant women between the age of 18-45 years and at any gestational age with hemoglobin level <10g/dL and microcytic hypochromic anemia (report of CBC) were included in the study. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and serum ferritin report were collected. RESULTS- In our study the most common age group in which the anemia was found between 19-35 years (80.85%). Most of the patients were primigravida (44.68%), between 26-37 wks of gestational age (82.97%), from a rural area (70.21%). Only 2 patients had a family history (2.12%) of beta-thalassemia and 6 patients had a history (6.38%) of blood transfusion. In our study moderate anemia was found in 55.31% of cases followed by mild anemia 25.53% and severe anemia 19.14%. In our study iron deficiency anemia was found in 87.23% only minor Beta-thalassemia was found to be 4.25%, of the patient, and the coexistence of iron deficiency anemia and beta-thalassemia in pregnant women is 8.51%. In our study total of 12 patients (4 cases of only minor beta-thalassemia and 8 cases of minor beta-thalassemia associated with IDA) The prevalence rate of beta-thalassemia in our study was 7.8%. CONCLUSION- the recommendation is to diagnose beta-thalassemia in pregnant patients is essential to give proper treatment. The screening of pregnant patients prevents unnecessary parental iron therapy and iron overload in case of anemia. further studies are needed in this field and less expensive and accurate methods should come in place. ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER Obstetrics & Gynaecology “PREVALENCE OF BETA-THALASSEMIA TRAIT IN PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC” KEY WORDS: Beta- thalassemia, iron deficiency anemia, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) 1. INTRODUCTION- Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia syndromes, especially beta thalassemia trait (BTT), are the two most commonly occuring microcytic hypochromic anemias highly 1 prevalent in countries like India. Iron deficiency anemia is the first most common cause of anemia in pregnancy, beta thalassemia trait is the second most frequent cause of anemia of pregnancy. During pregnancy 30-50% of women become anaemic and the main reason is iron deficiency anaemia. The oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells becomes less and it cannot fulfill the body requirements in anaemia which is a pathological condition. The most common hematological disease in developing countries is Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) affecting 30% of world population. People residing in Indian subcontinent, middle east and central Asia are more likely to get affected by iron deficiency anemia. 3.5%-10% 2 people are affected by Beta Thalassemia Trait (BTT) in India. Patients with thalassemia trait shows an increased incidence of anemia during the second trimester of pregnancy. This does not result in any disability and does not require blood replacement during pregnancy. No adverse effects were observed in any of the patients or in any of their infants. Investigation should be done for the presence of thalassemia in all patients in whom the racial origin indicates a high incidence of the disorder. Pregnancy indicates the use of oral iron therapy but at the same time, it is mandatory to guard against excessive and parenteral iron therapy which may lead 2,3 to a state of iron overload in patients with thalassemia. Many studies have reported the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia in patients with beta thalassemia trait. In clinical practice and routine OPD the identification, treatment and possible prevention for iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation is uncomplicated and simple while BTT is rountinely diagnosed only after failure of treatment for IDA during pregnancy or after delivery. Beta Thalassemia is the most common type of hemoglobinopathies transmitted by heredity. Beta Thalassemia Trait (BTT) patients are usually asymptomatic and ignorant of their carrier state unless 4 diagnosed by testing. However, both alpha and beta thalassemia traits are the reason behind microcytic, hypochromic anaemia and are most frequently misdiagnosed as IDA. Thalassemia trait (or minor) should be diagnosed Whenever there is a microcytic anaemia that is not improving with iron therapy or when anaemia fore date the pregnancy, especially in a patient from a high risk ethnic group, thalassemia trait(or minor) should be diagnosed. Also, certain findings on the complete blood count (CBC) indices can suggest thalassemia trait such as microcytosis out of proportion to the anaemia along with a 5 raised RBC count. Screening for thalassemia can be done by measuring HbA2 levels. Thalassemia traits are associated with a reduced mean corpuscular volume (MCV), reduced mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and a normal mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Of all the above 6 mentioned markers, the most reliable marker is MCH. Another way of diagnosing BTT is by using Mentzer index. It was first described by Mentzer in the year 1973. It is calculated from the CBC report. Mentzer index value (MCV/RBC count) of less than 13 may represent thalassemia 5,6 trait, and greater than 13 often indicates IDA. www.worldwidejournals.com 45 Dr. Uma Jain* Designated Professor, Dept. Of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GMC Associated With Dh Shivpuri, (M.P.) India. *Corresponding Author Dr. Preeti Gupta Senior Consultant, Dept. Of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Gupta Hospital, Morar Gwalior, M.p. India. Dr. Shaily Sengar Assistant Professor Dept. Of Obstetric And Gynaecology, GMC Shivpuri (M.P.) India PARIPEX - INDIAN JOURNAL F RESEARCH | O September - 202 Volume - 10 | Issue - 09 | 1 | PRINT ISSN No. 2250 - 1991 | DOI : 10.36106/paripex