Non-Immune Fetal Hydrops

Abstract

Fetal hydrops is defined as the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the fetus´s soft tissues and serous cavities (pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal). It is divided into two groups: fetal immune hydrops and non-immune fetal hydrops. We report the case of a 9 weeks pregnant woman, classified to be at increased genetic risk by her obstetric history. We proceed as established by the Genetics Program for the Prenatal Detection of Birth Defects. The importance of the prenatal ultrasound information is relevant in the early diagnosis of congenital malformations and / or structural defects of the fetus. After the follow-up of the case and the performance of confirmatory tests, a presumptive nonimmunological fetal hydrops is diagnosed, which is subsequently confirmed by pathological anatomy. Taking into account that the prognosis of this entity is generally unfavorable and with very high intrauterine mortality rate, this couple decided to terminate the pregnancy.