title: Isolated hypoplasia of abdominal wall muscles associated with fetal ascites.
abstract: We report the case of an infant born after parvovirus B19-induced fetal hydrops, who presented at birth with bilateral abdominal wall laxity, which was more evident on the flanks. Imaging exams revealed congenital hypoplasia of oblique abdominal muscles not associated with other anatomical abnormalities except for small liver calcifications. We review the medical literature and identify similar cases associated with fetal ascites. We propose that isolated hypoplasia of abdominal wall muscles can be associated with fetal ascites from various causes, and represents a separate condition from prune belly syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Travan
authors.affiliation: University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1915-9965
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naviglio
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cont
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brovedani
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davanzo
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demarini
keywords: Parvovirus B19; abdominal wall defects; fetal ascites; isolated deficiency of abdominal muscles; prune belly syndrome