Diagnosis and management of nonimmune hydrops in the newborn. Until the latter half of the 20th century, it was believed to be due to rhesus blood group isoimmunization of the fetus, although potter described infants who had nonimmune causes of fetal hydrops. Hydrops fetalis is excessive extravasation of fluid into the third space in a fetus which could be due to heart failure, volume overload, decreased oncotic pressure, or increased vascular permeability. Shortterm and longterm outcomes of 214 cases of nonimmune hydrops fetalis. When first described, nihf constituted 20% of all cases, but with effective anti d prophylaxis for immune hydrops, nihf constitutes 90% cases of fetal hydrops. Etiology and outcome of nonimmune hydrops fetalis in. Ninety percent are nonimmune not the result of red cell alloimmunization. Onethird of hydropic fetuses are discovered incidentally during prenatal sonography in the first or second trimester of gestation. Alpha thalassemia major four gene alpha thalassemia, or homozygous alpha thalassemia. There are two types of hydrops fetalis, immune and nonimmune. Learn about hydrops fetalis on our designated hydrops fetalis page. Up to 90% of all cases of hydrops today are non immune hydrops. Evaluation of hydrops begins with an antibody screen indirect coombs test to verify that it is nonimmune, detailed sonography of the fetuses and placenta, including echocardiography and assessment for fetal arrhythmia, and middle cerebral artery doppler evaluation for anemia, as well as fetal karyotype andor. Information for parents your baby has been diagnosed with a condition referred to as hydrops fetalis meaning the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the babys soft tissues, organs, and cavities.
Immune hydrops accounts for 1020%of cases maternal antibodies against redcells of the fetus cross the placenta and coat fetal red cells which are then destroyed hemolysis in the. Ota s, sahara j, mabuchi a, yamamoto r, ishii k, and mitsuda n. 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. For information on our recommended workup, download the non immune hydrops fetalis workup pdf. For immune hydrops fetalis, fetal blood transfusions may be necessary to help improve the condition. Congenital chylous ascites and severe nonimmune hydrops. Hydrops fetalis is found in about 1 per 2,000 births and is categorized as immune or nonimmune hydrops. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis nihf comprises the subgroup of cases not caused by red cell alloimmunization eg, rhd, kell. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis nihf is a rare fetal condition with a very high mortality in spite of advances in prenatal diagnostic techniques, early detection, and individualized management. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis nihf refers to hydrops in the absence of maternal circulating redcell antibodies, and constitutes up to 90% of all described hydrops fetalis cases. Hydrops fetalis is an excessive accumulation of fetal fluid. Non immune hydrops fetalis nihf, due to causes other than rh alloimmunization, is the cause in 85%.
Nonimmune hydrops fetalis american academy of pediatrics. Hydrops occurring in patients with rh incompatibilityinfected rh is called immune hydrops fetalis,however hydrops arising out of fetal or maternal causes. The type depends on the cause of the abnormal fluid. Department of significance of 3methoxytyrosine and it.
The diagnosis is reached when there is fluid accumulation in more than one extravascular space, this includes soft tissue edema in the skin or scalp, or fluid in body cavities such as ascites pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or hydrocele. Hydrops fetalis genetic and rare diseases information. Hydrops fetalis is an excessive fluid accumulation within the fetal extra vascular compartments and body cavities. Evaluation of hydrops begins with an antibody screen indirect coombs test to verify that it is non immune, detailed sonography of the fetuses and placenta, including echocardiography and assessment for fetal arrhythmia, and middle cerebral artery doppler evaluation for anemia, as well as fetal karyotype andor. Google scholar maidman je, yeager c, anderson v, makabali g, ogrady jp, arce j. Investigation and management of nonimmune fetal hydrops. Provision of a standardized approach to nonimmune fetal hydrops, emphasizing the search for prenatally treatable conditions and recurrent genetic etiologies. Next generation sequencing ngs is one area of precision medicine the holds promise for the diagnosis and treatment of fetal congenital anomalies, genetic. An accessory diaphragm is a rare congenital anomaly that can be associated with fetal hydrops. In 1943 potter 1 differentiated nonimmune hydrops nih from immune hydrops due to fetalmaternal blood incompatibilities. Hydrops fetalis is a pathological condition of excessive fluid accumulation in at least two extravascular compartments, including fetal soft tissues and body cavities. Non immune hydrops fetalis nihf was first distinguished from immune hydrops by edith potter in 1943. Nonimmune fetal hydrops is a condition easily diagnosed by antenatal ultrasound.
Hydrops fetalis is the presence of excessive fluid in two or more fetal compartments including skin edema, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, ascites, and polyhydramnios. This is a condition in which mother who has rh negative blood type makes antibodies to her babys rh positive blood cells, and the antibodies cross the placenta. In one series the determination of an etiology for nonimmune hydrops was increased from 50% without to 80% with an autopsy 10. It also provides a standardized approach to nonimmune fetal hydrops, emphasizing the search for prenatally treatable conditions and recurrent genetic etiologies. Presence of excess extracellular fluid in two or more sites pericardial effusion pleural effusion ascites.
It is defined as an abnormal collection of fluid in at least two different fetal organ spaces. Hydrops fetalis fetal hydrops is a pathologic condition of excessive accumulation of fluid in at. These guidelines educate readers about the causes of nonimmune fetal hydrops and its prenatal counselling and management. During the decade to 1979, 203 hydropic infants died in the state of victoria, australia. Hydrops fetalis it is defined as generalized fetal edema or anasarca, which can be detected by an antenatal usg. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article.
For 150 years, families have come from around the corner and across the world, looking to boston childrens for answers. Hydrops can be divided into two major categories or types. Ultrasound is the standard imaging tool used to determine the degree and extent of fetal hydrops and also to identify underlying fetal anomalies causing hydrops. The causes of nonimmune hydrops are so numerous that treatment depends on the specific problem that is causing hydrops. Hydrops fetalis, characterized by fluid accumulation in fetal tissues and body cavities, is a nonspecific finding appeared in many different ways. Accessory diaphragm associated with nonimmune hydrops fetalis. Since the incorporation of rhimmune globulin into antepartum care for rhnegative women, 90% of hydropic cases are nonimmune in origin 2 definition. Multiple fetal anatomic and functional disorders can cause nihf. With the marked decrease in this condition due to prophylaxis with immune globulin, most cases of hydrops fetalis are now caused by other conditions and are known as nonimmune hydrops. Non immune hydrops, the most common type, is caused by a fetal medical condition or birth defect that affects the bodys ability to manage fluid.
Nonimmune hydrops fetalis is a heterogenous condition for which more than 70 causes have been described. Hydrops fetalis is not itself a disease, but an ultrasound marker of other fetal complications. Erythroblastosis fetalis, or hemolytic disease of the newborn, is a condition caused by specific antibodies of the mother, directed against red cell antigens of the fetus. Occasionally, there is no treatment and the baby must be delivered.
This is the place where the most difficult challenges are faced head on, where the impossible becomes possible, and where families in search of answers find them. These fluidfilled spaces can occur in different fetal body locations, including. Symptoms of hydrops fetalis can occur during pregnancy or after the baby is born. Hydrops fetalis or hydrops was first described by ballantyne in 1892.
Rh compatibility causes massive red blood cell destruction, which leads to several problems, including. Appropriate investigation and management of nonimmune fetal hydrops. Hydrops fetalis is a severe, lifethreatening problem of severe edema swelling in the fetus and newborn. This anemia can have either an immune or nonimmune cause. In another series, this combined approach of a thorough antenatal assessment and necropsy when indicated was able to determine the cause of nonimmune hydrops in over 90% of cases 10. This is the story of our son, who was prenatally diagnosed with congenital chylous ascites and severe hydrops fetalis severe nonimmune hydrops. According to holzgrev 1984, the most frequent cases are. It may be manifestation of a variety of underlying disorders. Erythroblastosis fetalis and hydrops fetalis springerlink. Perinatal and oneyear outcomes of nonimmune hydrops fetalis by etiology and age at diagnosis.
Nonimmune hydrops can also be unrelated to anemia, for example if a fetal tumor or congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation increases the. Douglas wilson, in fetal medicine third edition, 2020. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis, which occurs when disease or other complications interfere with a babys ability to manage fluid. Donald school journal of ultrasound in obstetrics and. Immune hydrops fetalis is a complication of a severe form of rh incompatibility. Until the latter half of the 20th century, it was believed to be due to rhesus blood group isoimmunization of the fetus, although potter described infants. Click export csv or ris to download the entire page or use the checkboxes to select a subset of records to download. Hydrops fetalis has been a wellrecognized fetal and neonatal condition throughout history. Hydrops fetalis is a serious condition in which abnormal amounts of fluid build up in two or more body areas of a fetus or newborn. Immune hydrops fetalis is most often a complication of a severe form of rh incompatibility, which can be prevented. About half of unborn babies with hydrops fetalis do not survive. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis nihf can be one of the earliest signs of mps vii1,2 mps vii often goes undiagnosed in fetalstage infants with idiopathic nihf3 hydrops fetalis is a lifethreatening fetal state that is characterized by increased fluid accumulation in. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis occurs in approximately one of every 1,000 births.
Hydrops is traditionally classified into either immune or non. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis nihf is a complex condition with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Types of hydrops pleural effusion there are two types of fetal hydrops. Fetal medicine, department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, university of california, san francisco, san francisco, ca, us. Hydrops fetalis hf is defined as the presence of excessive fetal fluid in two or more of the following spaces. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis is a clinical entity that carries serious morbidity and mortality. Education of readers about the causes of nonimmune fetal hydrops and its prenatal counselling and management. During pregnancy, symptoms of hydrops fetalis may include. The condition is subdivided in to a immune hydrops. Hydrops fetalis treatment danafarberboston childrens. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis presenting with. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis nihf, due to causes other than rh alloimmunization. Hydrops fetalis refers to abnormal fluid collections in fetal soft tissues and serous cavities. These are largely rhd antigens, but rare cases of sensitization against other antigens e.
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