Fetal HLA typing in β thalassaemia: implications for haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation

Stem-cell transplantation can cure β thalassaemia. We aimed to assess whether fetal HLA typing done early in the pregnancy of couples who were at risk of β thalassaemia could provide an alternative to pregnancy termination if the prospect of a bone-marrow transplantation from a family member was available. In our clinic in Sardinia, we did fetal HLA typing for 49 couples at risk of having a baby with β thalassaemia. Two affected children were born and successfully received a transplantation from a family donor. Five non-affected fetuses were HLA compatible with an affected sibling and their cord blood was harvested for a future transplantation.