title: Nonimmune hydrops fetalis: clinical experience and factors related to a poor outcome.
abstract: Twenty-one cases of nonimmune hydrops fetalis diagnosed at the Medical College of Georgia during a 2-year period are presented. All fetuses satisfied strict diagnostic criteria and were evaluated according to a standard protocol. The corrected mortality rate was 95% with pulmonary hypoplasia being the most common cause of perinatal death. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 24.8 weeks; in 57% of the cases the cause of nonimmune hydrops fetalis was identified. Fifteen fetuses had serial ultrasound assessment and in 19 cases postnatal evaluation was performed. Two factors that consistently conveyed a poor perinatal outcome were ultrasonographic evidence of malformation and/or the presence of persistent pleural effusions. A method for the quantification of fetal pleural effusions is presented and its clinical relevance is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D014463:Ultrasonography