Non-immune hydrops fetalis: a short review of etiology and pathophysiology.
Hydrops fetalis is an excessive accumulation of fetal fluid. Hydrops is traditionally classified into either immune or non-immune hydrops (NIHF), but in practice, nowadays in the Western world >90% of hydrops is of non-immune origin. The basis of the disorder is an imbalance in the regulation of fetal fluid movement between the vascular and interstitial space. We previously suggested a diagnostic flow-chart for NIHF. In this short review we describe the main mechanisms leading to NIHF.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Gaslini Institute, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy. carlobellini@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
Carlo
C
Bellini
Raoul C M
RC
Hennekam
D001826:Body Fluids; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000503:physiopathology