A 25 year old Vietnamese-Canadian pregnant woman was referred to our regional perinatal center at 31 weeks gestation after a routine ultrasound examination showing fetal ascites. A diagnosis of non-immune hydrops fetalis was made, and a Caesarean section was performed two days after hospital admission. An infant with Hb Barts hydrops fetalis was delivered who expired one hour after birth. alpha-Globin gene mapping of fetal DNA confirmed the diagnosis of homozygous alpha-thalassemia with deletion of all four alpha-globin genes. Both parents were shown to have alpha-thalassemia trait with deletion of both alpha-globin genes on one chromosome. This report further illustrates the need for a simple screening test for couples at risk of giving birth to infants with homozygous alpha-thalassemia. The availability of such a test would facilitate genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis, thereby improving the quality of obstetrical care provided to these women at risk.
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Prenatally diagnosed intracranial hemorrhage in the fetus is associated with a wide range of neonatal disorders, from completely uncomplicated physiological development to severe neurological impairment or death. The incidence is 0.6-1/1,000 births.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTaiwan J Obstet Gynecol
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address:
JIMD Rep
January 2025
The Morris Kahn Laboratory of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences Ben Gurion University Beer-Sheva Israel.
The tightly-regulated spatial and temporal distribution of zinc ion concentrations within cellular compartments is controlled by two groups of Zn transporters: the 14-member ZIP/SLC39 family, facilitating Zn influx into the cytoplasm from the extracellular space or intracellular organelles; and the 10-member ZnT/SLC30 family, mobilizing Zn in the opposite direction. Genetic aberrations in most zinc transporters cause human syndromes. Notably, previous studies demonstrated osteopenia and male-specific cardiac death in mice lacking the ZnT5/ zinc transporter, and suggested association of two homozygous frameshift variants with perinatal mortality in humans, due to hydrops fetalis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlood
December 2024
Sanquin, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Alloimmunization during pregnancy occurs when a mother produces antibodies against fetal antigens, leading to complications like hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) and fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). HDFN involves destruction of fetal red blood cells, potentially causing severe anemia, hydrops fetalis, and fetal death. FNAIT affects fetal platelets and possibly endothelial cells, resulting in risk of intracranial hemorrhage and brain damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrenat Diagn
January 2025
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Objective: To report a case of a fetus with multiple congenital anomalies and suspected Barth syndrome, highlighting potential phenotypic expansion of the syndrome.
Methods: A 32-year-old G4P2011 patient was referred at 18w5d gestation for suspected fetal encephalocele. Serial imaging, including ultrasound and MRI, was performed to evaluate fetal anomalies.
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