What condition may be identified for the first time during pregnancy in mothers?

Hemoglobin SC Disease is a condition that may be identified for the first time during pregnancy due to the unique hematologic changes that occur during this time. Pregnancy can unearth or exacerbate existing hematologic conditions, particularly as the increased blood volume and modifications in red blood cell dynamics can lead to variations in hemoglobin levels and types.

Hemoglobin SC Disease occurs when an individual inherits one sickle cell gene (HbS) from one parent and one gene for another abnormal hemoglobin (HbC) from the other parent. This means that a pregnant woman who is a carrier of both genes may not have had a diagnosis until pregnancy prompts a routine screening, revealing the presence of HbSC.

Diagnoses like Hemoglobin C Disease, Sickle Cell Disease, and Thalassemia generally require prior testing or family history awareness since they are commonly tested for in populations at risk to capture the clinical manifestation of their respective disorders before pregnancy. In contrast, Hemoglobin SC Disease may remain undetected until the altered demands and laboratory checks that accompany maternal care during pregnancy reveal the condition.