Hydrops fetalis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ICD-10 | P56. |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 773.3 |
| ICD-10 | P83.2 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 778.0 |
Hydrops fetalis is a blood condition in the fetus characterized by an edema in the fetal subcutaneous tissue, sometimes leading to spontaneous abortion.
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[edit] Classification and Causes
Hydrops fetalis can have either an immune or non-immune cause.
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.
The non-immune form of hydrops fetalis has many causes including:
- 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.
- 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
[edit] References
Cassidy MD, George. Hydrops Fetalis. eMedicine Online. 2004.
