Hello,

These are cases likely of hydrops fetalis. Hydrops fetalis usually results from fetal anemia, when the heart needs to pump a much greater volume of blood to deliver the same amount of oxygen. This anemia can have either an immune or non-immune cause. The index cases described are likely due to non-immune hydrops, which can also be unrelated to anemia, for example if a fetal tumor or congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation increases the demand for blood flow. The increased demand for cardiac output leads to heart failure, and corresponding edema. Diagnosis and monitoring can be done by ultrasound scan examination. Fetal therapy may be needed for specific underlying cause. Prenatal diagnosis and counseling should be done. Postmortem examination and investigations should have been performed to aid in further counseling.


Hope this helps.

Dr CYT Ong