Hydrops Fetalis 

Hydrops fetalis is Latin for edema of the fetus. Ballantyne first described hydrops fetalis in 1892, although this condition had been recognized for almost 200 years.

The hallmark of the disease is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in body cavities (pleural, pericardial, peritoneal) and soft tissues with a wall thickness of greater than 5 mm.^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]} In addition, hydrops fetalis is associated with polyhydramnios and a thickened placenta (>6 cm) in as many as 30-75% of patients. Many affected fetuses also have hepatosplenomegaly.

The basic problem in hydrops fetalis is an imbalance in fluid homeostasis, with more fluid accumulating than can be resorbed. This imbalance can result from 2 broad categories of pathologies, namely, those of an immune origin and those of a nonimmune origin.

Immune-related hydrops fetalis (IHF) results from alloimmune hemolytic disease or Rh isoimmunization. Nonimmune-related hydrops fetalis (NIHF) can result from primary myocardial failure, high-output cardiac failure, decreased colloid oncotic plasma pressure, increased capillary permeability, or obstruction of venous or lymphatic flow, among other etiologies.^[6] Fetal cardiac anomalies are the most common cause of NIHF. Chromosomal anomalies are the second-most-common cause.^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9]}

Mortality and mortality figures vary, but in general, the mortality rate is high.^{[7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]}

Hydrops fetalis is often diagnosed with routine sonograms in which the typical features are depicted. In other fetuses, a clinical suspicion of hydrops fetalis may exist because of a previous family history of a similarly affected baby or because ultrasonography is performed to evaluate polyhydramnios.^[15]

Imaging features

Sonograms depict anasarca (edema) and fluid collection in serous cavities, such as the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal spaces. Polyhydramnios and an edematous thick placenta are often present.

Ascites may be small and may be just enough to form a film over the abdominal contents, or ascites may be extensive, with the contents of the abdomen, liver, and gut floating in the fluid (see the images below). The ascites may extend into the scrotum to form a hydrocele.

Pleural effusions can be unilateral or bilateral (see images below). Unilateral effusions indicate the presence of a process such as chylothorax. Large effusions can compress the mediastinal vessels, cause upper body edema, and interfere with esophageal functioning to cause secondary polyhydramnios.

Edema may be localized to one part of the body, or it may be generalized. Edema is seen most easily over the skull, over which a halo is formed (see images below). Edema may be seen in other parts of the body, as well.

Placental thickening is a late occurrence, and when affected, the placenta is thicker than 4-5 cm over its entire extent.

The distribution and size of fluid accumulations may indicate the pathology. In IHF, ascites appears first, with edema and pleural collections appearing late.

The findings of specific organ pathology, for example, skeletal abnormalities or cardiac tumors, may indicate a specific cause in hydrops fetalis.^[16]

Preferred examination

The preferred examination for immune-related hydrops fetalis is as follows:

A history of a previously affected fetus in the family is of critical importance. Once IHF is suspected, maternal blood typing and antibody screening against Rh and a determination of minor blood types (eg, Kell, Duffy, MNSs) should be performed. In mothers in whom IgM is detected, no further workup is needed, but if IgG is detected, titers of Rh-positive antibodies in the maternal blood need to be determined. A titer that is greater than 1:16 is significant. If the titer results are significant, amniocentesis should be performed to assess the severity of fetal hemolysis and anemia.

Fetal anemia can be monitored either by direct sampling of the fetal blood by means of cordocentesis or by determining the delta optical density (OD) by using a wavelength of 450 μm in the amniotic fluid. This measurement gives an estimate of bilirubin levels during the third trimester. Delta OD results are plotted on the Liley 3-zone chart. The closer the results are to the third zone, the greater is the risk of IHF. A fetal hematocrit determination is the final test to be performed, and fetal transfusion should be considered in fetuses with a hematocrit level that is less than 40%.

The preferred examination for nonimmune-related hydrops fetalis is as follows:

NIHF can result from a large number of causes, including chromosomal abnormalities, cardiac failure, tumors, and twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Extensive clinical workup is required to attempt to identify the specific etiology. In patients in whom NIHF is suspected, the search for a cause starts with a maternal evaluation. Initial clinical history taking should be directed toward the presence of hereditary or metabolic diseases, diabetes, infections, anemias, and the use of all medications.

Initial investigations include an indirect Coombs test to exclude immune causes, followed by the determination of routine blood counts and indices to exclude thalassemias; maternal blood chemistry testing for G-6-PD deficiency; Betke-Kleihauer testing for fetal-maternal transfusion; and screening for toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, CMV, and herpes simplex (TORCH) infection during intrauterine pregnancy.

Amniocentesis is needed to perform fetal karyotyping, amniotic fluid culturing, testing for CMV infections, assessment of α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, testing for thalassemia, and determination of the lecithin-sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. Karyotyping can also be performed with tissue obtained by chorionic villous sampling (CVS) or with fluid obtained from one of the fetal cavities. A chromosome count and karyotype can be obtained rapidly by using the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. The FISH technique can also help in the detection of specific deletions and chromosomal rearrangements, and the results are often available within 24-48 hours.

Fetal blood tests should include hemoglobin chain analysis for thalassemia and fetal serum albumin levels.

Initially, ultrasonographic findings suggest hydrops fetalis in most cases, and this modality can also be used for follow-up imaging to observe the progress of the condition if the pregnancy is continued.

Limitations of techniques

Ultrasonographic findings are often reliably helpful in the diagnosis of the disease causing fetal hydrops, especially in fetuses in whom a chest mass or cardiac disease is present. However, in many fetuses, an exact etiology is not forthcoming after an ultrasonographic examination.

Blood tests performed in the mother can provide information regarding Rh and other immune causes of hydrops fetalis, as well as evidence of infection and metabolic diseases. However, invasive fetal testing must eventually be performed by means of amniocentesis or cordocentesis. Both methods pose a risk of fetal death.

Antenatal radiography has no place in the diagnosis of fetal hydrops because this condition is essentially a disease of the soft tissue and because of the reservations regarding using radiography in pregnant women.

Computed tomography (CT) scans may offer better anatomic resolution, but CT scans are difficult to obtain in the presence of an active fetus, and radiation exposure in pregnant women is a concern.

Exquisite anatomic detail can be depicted on magnetic resonance images (MRIs), especially on those obtained with newer algorithms that allow fast acquisitions and that minimize the effect of fetal movement. However, MRI has not become a standard modality for imaging fetal hydrops because of the limited availability of state-of-the-art equipment for fast imaging and because of the expense involved. In addition, ultrasonography is widely available and can adequately provide most of the required information. These factors have hindered a wider use of MRI in fetal imaging.

Early detection of cerebral damage in a fetus associated with hydrops and cytomegalovirus infection is possible with fetal MRI. Salmaso et al described a case of a woman presenting at 21 weeks of pregnancy with active CMV infection.^[17] Although a cerebral ultrasound examination had been normal, an MRI scan revealed a thickened germinal matrix, which was histologically confirmed and which was associated with underdevelopment of the gyri.

Ultrasonography remains the cornerstone of fetal imaging in fetuses in whom hydrops fetalis is suspected. Sonograms demonstrate the cardinal signs of the disease, namely, fetal skin edema (>5 mm) (see images below), fluid in a serous cavity, polyhydramnios, and a thickened placenta. These signs can be seen in different combinations and to differing extents in various diseases.^[18] Additional findings, depending on the specific etiology causing the fetal hydrops, are occasionally seen as well.

The minimum diagnostic criteria include the following: fluid accumulation in at least 2 serous cavities (ascites, pleural effusion, or pericardial effusion) or 1 serous effusion and generalized anasarca. A single site of fluid accumulation is generally not enough to diagnose hydrops fetalis unless a preexisting pathology that is strongly associated with this condition (eg, chest mass) is also present.

False positives/negatives

A few conditions mimic full-blown hydrops fetalis, but individual components of hydrops fetalis can be seen in other conditions, even as normal variants.

Normal fetal hair and a thick scalp can occasionally be seen, and this finding must be differentiated from skin edema (see images below). Similarly, cystic hygromas and loops of cord near the body wall can suggest skin thickening. Occasionally, a thick layer of subcutaneous fat may cause confusion.

Thick, folded skin, occasionally termed crocodile skin, is a normal variant that can cause confusion with skin edema (see image below).

A congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung, a diaphragmatic hernia, and a bronchogenic cyst can suggest pleural effusions.

Pseudoascites, obstructed or mature bowel, fetal abdominal cysts, and an obstructed urinary system can mimic ascites. Pseudoascites refers to an artifactual hypoechoic rim that is sometimes seen in the fetal abdomen; this is due to hypoechoic, deep abdominal wall muscles or the diaphragm. Pseudoascites usually disappears when scanning is performed from another direction.

Other features that differentiate pseudoascites from ascites are as follows: (1) Pseudoascites is not seen past the anterior edge of the ribs; (2) pseudoascites is confined to the upper abdomen, unlike ascites, which is diffuse; and (3) With ascites, the hyperechoic outer margin of the umbilical vein can be seen, as can the falciform ligament.

A small pericardial effusion (< 2 mm) is usually physiologic.

No role exists for nuclear medicine in the workup of patients with fetal hydrops.

No role exists for angiography in the workup of patients with fetal hydrops.