Hydrops fetalis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hydrops fetalis due to haemolytic disease/isoimmunization Classification and external resources
ICD-10	P56.
ICD-9	773.3

Hydrops fetalis not due to haemolytic disease/isoimmunization Classification and external resources
ICD-10	P83.2
ICD-9	778.0

Hydrops fetalis is a condition in the fetus characterized by an accumulation of fluid, or edema, in at least two fetal compartments, including the subcutaneous tissue, pleura, pericardium, or in the abdomen, which is also known as ascites. The edema is usually seen in the fetal subcutaneous tissue, sometimes leading to spontaneous abortion. It is a prenatal form of heart failure, in which the heart is unable to satisfy the insatiable demand for an unusually high amount of blood flow.

Contents 1 Classification and causes 2 Diagnosis 3 Treatment 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Classification and causes

Hydrops fetalis usually stems from fetal anemia, when the heart needs to pump a much greater volume of blood to deliver the same amount of oxygen. This anemia can have either an immune or non-immune cause. Non-immune hydrops can also be unrelated to anemia, for example if a tumor or congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation increases the demand for blood flow.

Immune causes

• Rh disease is the major cause for immune mediated hydrops fetalis; however, owing to preventative methods developed in the 1970s Rh disease has markedly declined. Rh disease can be prevented by administration of anti-D IgG (Rho(D) Immune Globulin) injections to RhD-negative mothers during pregnancy and/or within 72 hours of the delivery.

Non-Immune causes
The non-immune form of hydrops fetalis has many causes including:

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Deficiency of the enzyme beta-glucuronidase. This enzyme deficiency is the cause of the lysosomal storage disease called Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII.
• Parvovirus B19 infection of the pregnant woman.
• Maternal syphilis.
• α thalassemia can also cause hydrops fetalis when all four of the genetic loci for α globin are deleted or affected by mutation.
• Uncommonly, Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) can present with hydrops fetalis.
• Turner Syndrome
• Rarely, a tumor. The most common type of fetal tumor is a teratoma, particularly a sacrococcygeal teratoma.

[edit] Diagnosis

Hydrops fetalis can be diagnosed and monitored by ultrasound scans.

[edit] Treatment

The treatment depends on the cause.

Severely anemic fetuses can be treated with blood transfusions while still in the womb.

[edit] See also

• Mirror syndrome

[edit] References

Cassidy MD, George. Hydrops Fetalis. eMedicine Online. 2004.

[edit] External links

• Hydrops Fetalis at eMedicine
• DDB 29715
• www.fifthdisease.org Patient Information
• www.hydropsfetalis.org Research Information
• www.hygen.net Case Information & Images

v • d • e Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P, 760-779) Maternal factors and complications Umbilical cord prolapse - Nuchal cord - Chorioamnionitis Length of gestation and fetal growth Small for gestational age - Large for gestational age - Premature birth - Postmature birth Birth trauma Cephalhematoma - Brachial plexus lesion (Erb's palsy, Klumpke paralysis) Respiratory Intrauterine hypoxia - Infant respiratory distress syndrome - Transient tachypnea of the newborn - Meconium aspiration syndrome - pleural disease (Pneumothorax, Pneumomediastinum) - Wilson-Mikity syndrome - Bronchopulmonary dysplasia Cardiovascular Pneumopericardium - Persistent fetal circulation Haemorrhagic and haematological/ hematologic disease Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn - Hemolytic disease of the newborn - Rh disease - Hydrops fetalis - Kernicterus - Neonatal jaundice Digestive system Ileus - Necrotizing enterocolitis Integument and temperature regulation Erythema toxicum Other disorders Periventricular leukomalacia - Gray baby syndrome - muscle tone (Congenital hypertonia, Congenital hypotonia) - Congenital rubella syndrome