Hydrops Fetalis | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of hydrops fetalis?
Symptoms of hydrops fetalis can occur during pregnancy or after the baby is born. During pregnancy, symptoms of hydrops fetalis may include:
- Large amounts of amniotic fluid
- Thickened placenta
- Enlarged liver, spleen, or heart in the baby
- Fluid buildup in the baby’s abdomen
After birth, symptoms may include:
- Pale coloring
- Severe swelling overall, especially in the baby's abdomen
- Enlarged liver and spleen
- Difficulty breathing
What causes hydrops fetalis?
Many different diseases and other medical complications can cause hydrops fetalis, such as:
- Hemolytic disease of the newborn
- Severe anemia
- Infections present at birth
- Heart or lung defects
- Chromosomal abnormalities and birth defects
- Liver disease
Hydrops Fetalis | Diagnosis & Treatments
How is hydrops fetalis diagnosed?
Hydrops fetalis can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after the baby is born through one of the following tests:
- Ultrasound
- Fetal blood sampling
- Amniocentesis
How is hydrops fetalis treated?
Treatment of hydrops fetalis depends on its cause. During pregnancy, hydrops fetalis is treatable only in certain situations. After birth, treatment may include:
- Help for difficulty breathing using extra oxygen or a mechanical breathing machine
- Removal of excessive fluid from spaces around the lungs and abdomen using a needle
- Medications to help the kidneys remove excess fluid
What is the long-term outlook for hydrops fetalis?
The severe swelling that occurs with hydrops can overtake a baby’s organ systems. About half of unborn babies with hydrops do not survive. For babies born with hydrops, survival often depends on the cause of the disease and its treatment.
How we care for hydrops fetalis
Our Thalassemia Program cares for children with hydrops fetalis. We are one of only six programs designated as centers of excellence in thalassemia by the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation and one of only seven centers sponsored by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prevention of thalassemia complications.
