Prenatal diagnosis of anoxic cerebral lesions caused by profound fetal anemia secondary to maternal red blood cell alloimmunization.
BACKGROUND
The long-term neurological prognosis of severe fetal anemia is usually considered favorable, especially when fetal hydrops regresses after successful in utero transfusion.


METHODS
We report two cases of prenatally diagnosed fetal cerebral anoxic lesions associated with severe fetal anemia despite appropriate and successful treatment by in utero transfusion. The two pregnancies were terminated.


CONCLUSIONS
Profound fetal anemia may cause anoxic lesions of the fetal brain that may be diagnosed prenatally. If new onset ventriculomegaly is observed on ultrasonography after in utero transfusion for severe fetal anemia, anoxic lesions could be suspected.
Carbonne
Bruno
B
Centre National de Référence en Hémobiologie Périnatale, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France. bruno.carbonne@sat.aphp.fr
Nguyen
Amélie
A
Cynober
Evelyne
E
Castaigne
Vanina
V
Cortey
Anne
A
Brossard
Yves
Y
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D007626:Kell Blood-Group System