Sonographic evaluation of hydrops fetalis.

Obstet Gynecol

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Published: July 1989

Sonographic criteria were developed to aid in determining the cause of hydrops fetalis in 26 consecutive cases diagnosed antenatally. This enabled us to predict whether the hydrops was due to anemia-related causes (isoimmunization, fetomaternal hemorrhage, alpha-thalassemia) or non-anemia-related causes. Fetuses without anemia as the cause of hydrops most often exhibited pleural effusions (87%) or marked edema (62.5%). A combination of pleural effusions and marked edema was evident in fetuses without anemia 56.3% of the time. Those with anemia as the cause of hydrops were significantly less likely to exhibit pleural effusions (20%), marked edema (10%), or pleural effusions and marked edema (10%). A thickened placenta occurred significantly more frequently (80 versus 37%) in anemia-associated hydrops. With the use of cordocentesis and intravascular in utero transfusion, the early recognition and treatment of hydrops fetalis due to anemia should lead to improved outcome in fetuses so affected.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pleural effusions
16
marked edema
16
hydrops fetalis
12
fetuses anemia
8
anemia hydrops
8
effusions marked
8
edema 10%
8
hydrops
7
sonographic evaluation
4
evaluation hydrops
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!