Non-immune hydrops fetalis: changing contribution to perinatal mortality

  1. HELEN M. ANDERSEN Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology1,
  2. J. H. DREW First Assistant Paediatrician and Director of Paediatrics1,
  3. N. A. BEISCHER Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology1,*,
  4. A. A. HUTCHISON Instructor in Pediatrics2,
  5. D. W. FORTUNE Director of Pathology3

Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1983.tb09281.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 90, Issue 7, pages 636–639, July 1983

Additional Information

How to Cite

ANDERSEN, H. M., DREW, J. H., BEISCHER, N. A., HUTCHISON, A. A. and FORTUNE, D. W. (1983), Non-immune hydrops fetalis: changing contribution to perinatal mortality. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 90: 636–639. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1983.tb09281.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and the Mercy Maternity Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia

  2. 2

    Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA

  3. 3

    Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Pathology, University of Melbourne, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, A ustralia

* *Correspondence: Professor N. A. Beischer, Department of Obsterics and Gynaecology, Mercy Maternity Hospital, Clarendon Street, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005
  3. Received J September 1982 Accepted 15 March 1983

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Summary. During the decade to 1979, 203 hydropic infants died in the State of Victoria, Australia. Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) became more common than immune hydrops fetalis as a cause of fetal hydrops, and its contribution to the total perinatal mortality increased from 0.1% to 3%. The perinatal mortality rate of infants with NIHF was virtually 100%. The most consistent finding at post-mortem was pulmonary hypoplasia which was probably due to compression from serous cavity effusions. Survival may be improved by early diagnosis and termination of the pregnancy in selected patients with viable infants before the development of gross serous cavity effusions The most constant clinical sign associated with hydrops fetalis was polyhydramnios which is an indication for ultrasonography and cardiotocography to detect cases of NIHF and to select the optimum time for delivery.

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