title: Second-trimester hydrops fetalis in pregnancies affected by homozygous alpha-thalassaemia-1.
abstract: Homozygous alpha-thalassaemia-1 is the commonest cause of hydrops fetalis in South-East Asia. Ultrasonographic features of hydrops fetalis were said to be evident only after 20 weeks of gestation. We studied 111 pregnancies at risk of homozygous alpha-thalassaemia-1 at 12-14 gestational weeks and 101 pregnancies at 17-18 weeks by abdominal ultrasound examination. Ultrasonographic features of hydrops fetalis were seen in 3 out of 44 pregnancies affected by homozygous alpha-thalassaemia-1 at 12-14 weeks [7 per cent; 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1-19 per cent] and in 7 out of 21 affected pregnancies at 17-18 weeks (33 per cent; 95 per cent CI 15-57 per cent). In conclusion, homozygous alpha-thalassaemia-1 can cause hydrops fetalis in the early second trimester. It should constitute one of the differential diagnoses in the work-up of second-trimester hydrops fetalis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Sin
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics