Etiology and outcome of hydrops fetalis. J Formos Med Assoc 1998 Jan;97(1):16-20
Date
03/03/1998Pubmed ID
9481059Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0031889479 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 24 CitationsAbstract
Hydrops fetalis is a morbid condition caused by a wide variety of diseases. Although treatment for some underlying pathologies is becoming available, the prognosis remains poor. To analyze the etiology and outcome of hydrops fetalis, we reviewed the records of 79 fetuses encountered at the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 1993 and October 1996. The mean +/- standard deviation gestational age at presentation was 24.9 +/- 6.3 weeks. One case was due to RhE incompatibility. Seventy-eight fetuses were diagnosed as having nonimmune hydrops fetalis; this was idiopathic in 20 fetuses. In the other 58, the causes and associated conditions were classified into eight groups: hematologic (25), cardiovascular (15), chromosomal (5), gastrointestinal (4), cystic hygroma (3), pulmonary (2), infection (2), and miscellaneous (3). One fetus with cystic hygroma also had a chromosomal abnormality (Turner's syndrome). The most common cause of nonimmune hydrops fetalis was homozygous alpha-thalassemia (31%). Twenty-nine fetuses were lost to follow-up after initial evaluation and 50 fetuses were delivered at our hospital. Of these, there were eight cases of antepartum death, 24 cases of intrapartum death, and 18 live births. Seventeen of the live-born infants were treated at our neonatal intensive care unit, of whom only seven survived.
Author List
Yang YH, Teng RJ, Tang JR, Yau KI, Huang LH, Hsieh FJAuthor
Ru-Jeng Teng MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultFemale
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hydrops Fetalis
Infant, Newborn
Male
Pregnancy
Prognosis
Survival Rate
Taiwan
Ultrasonography, Prenatal