title: Non-immune hydrops: Qatar experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the presenting signs, diagnostic findings, and outcomes of 64 cases of non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) cases seen in Women's Hospital, Qatar during the years 2003-2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of patients with signs suggesting of NIHF was done. A detailed scan was performed and karyotyping and detailed investigations were offered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average maternal age at diagnosis was 31 years. Fifty-six percent of the patients were diagnosed during the 2nd trimester. Most common presenting signs were: ascites, pleural effusion, scalp edema, skin edema, pericardial effusion, generalize edema and cystic hygroma. Two patients were positive for PV B19 infection. Fetal karyotyping performed in 78% of the patients showed abnormal chromosomes in 9 cases. Three patients showed fetal anemia with abnormal peak systolic velocity of the medial cerebral artery (MCA-PSV). Seventeen (27%) fetuses survived the perinatal period with live births occurring between gestational ages 30-41 weeks. Ten (59%) of the 17 babies survived post delivery (6 months post survival data). Major identifiable abnormalities that might have caused symptoms of hydrops were cardiac (23.43%), and chromosomal (14%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-immune hydrops fetalis is a complex problem. Establishment of a clear procedure for the follow up of such patients is extremely important.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Zohra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hasnani-Samnani
authors.forename: Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Farid
authors.forename: Eman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al Naggar
authors.forename: Badreldeen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004487:Edema; D016731:Erythema Infectiosum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D007621:Karyotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis; D011780:Qatar; D012189:Retrospective Studies