Lysosomal storage disorders as an etiology of nonimmune hydrops fetalis: A systematic review

We performed a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the incidence and types of lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) in case series of nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF). PubMed, Ovid, and clinicaltrials.gov were reviewed for case series evaluating the workup of NIHF diagnosed in utero or in the neonatal period in human subjects from 1979 to August 2020. Retrospective case series with at least five cases of fetal and/or neonatal NIHF with its workup mentioned were identified. Idiopathic NIHF was defined as NIHF without an apparent cause after initial standard-of-care workup. In total, 22 case series with 2678 total cases of NIHF were identified. The overall incidence of LSD was 6.6% (177/2663) in NIHF cases that were tested for any LSD, and 8.2% (177/2151) in idiopathic NIHF cases. The most common LSD identified in cases of NIHF were mucopolysaccharidosis type VII, galactosialidosis, infantile sialic acid storage disease, Gaucher disease, GM1 gangliosidosis, and sialidosis. More than 40% of the most common LSD causes of NIHF have a potential postnatal treatment. LSD testing for NIHF allows for early diagnosis, better counseling and appropriate management, planning for possible early treatment, and counseling for recurrence risk.

Nonimmune hydrops fetalis management from the perspective of fetal cardiologists: A single tertiary center experience from Egypt

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in managing nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF), perinatal mortality is still significant. Fetal cardiac failure eventually occurs regardless of etiology. However, no previous study has addressed NIHF from fetal cardiologists' perspective. Therefore, we evaluated etiology and management of a NIHF cohort requiring fetal cardiologist consultation in a developing country.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective cohort study of 70 cases with NIHF that were referred to a fetal cardiology unit over four years was performed. Demographics, etiologic diagnosis, and outcomes of the cases were assessed. Antenatal management was evaluated using cardiovascular profile score (CVPS).

RESULTS

The most frequent diagnosis was Idiopathic hydrops 42(62.6%), followed by hydrops due to cardiac diseases 19(28.4%), and 3 dead fetuses were detected at the first fetal echocardiography. Treatment of fetal tachyarrhythmia (n = 7) had 100% success rate in terms of antenatal hydrops resolution. Digoxin was used in cases of structural heart diseases, twin- twin transfusion syndrome, and dilated cardiomyopathy with perinatal mortality occurring in all cases (n = 9). In cases of idiopathic hydrops, 14 fetuses received digoxin with intrauterine hydrops resolution in 2/14 (14%) while non-treated cases had intrauterine or early neonatal death.

CONCLUSION

Nonimmune hydrops is the worst complication of diverse etiologies. Limitations in resources for advanced investigations in developing countries increase the possibility of categorizing NIHF as idiopathic. Tachyarrhythmia induced hydrops can be entirely reversed with antenatal therapy while non-tachyarrhythmia fetal cardiac disease outcomes are unfavorable regardless of therapy. On the other hand, idiopathic hydrops shows a limited potential response to digoxin in utero.

Outcomes following antenatal identification of hydrops fetalis: a single-centre experience from 2001 to 2012

OBJECTIVE

To describe the aetiologies and outcomes of pregnancies complicated by hydrops fetalis (HF).

STUDY DESIGN

Case series of all pregnancies complicated by HF managed at The Royal Women's Hospital (RWH), Melbourne, Australia, between 2001 and 2012. Multiple pregnancies, and cases where antenatal care was not provided at RWH were excluded. Cases were identified from neonatal and obstetric databases. Data were extracted from maternal and neonatal case files, electronic pathology and radiology reports, and obstetric and neonatal databases.

RESULTS

Over 12 years, 131 fetuses with HF with a median (IQR) gestational age (GA) at diagnosis of 24 (20-30) weeks were included in the analysis. There were 65 liveborn infants with a median (IQR) GA at birth of 33 (31-37) weeks and a median (IQR) birthweight Z-score of 1.4 (0.4-2.2). Overall survival from diagnosis was 27% (36/131) increasing to 55% (36/65) if born alive.

CONCLUSIONS

The perinatal mortality risk for fetuses and newborn infants with HF is high with important differences dependent on underlying diagnosis and the time at which counselling is provided. Clinicians need to be aware of the outcomes of both fetuses and neonates with this condition.

Etiology and Perinatal Outcome of Nonimmune Hydrops Fetalis in Southern China

Objective  This study aims to analyze the etiology and perinatal outcome of nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) in Southern China. Methods  All cases with NIHF diagnosed antenatally from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2014 were identified and analyzed. Results  Total 482 cases of NIHF were identified during the study period. The most common cause of NIHF was hemoglobin (Hb) Bart's disease (61.8%), followed by chromosomal abnormalities (13.5%), idiopathic etiology (13.1%), cardiac abnormalities (6.4%), and others (5.2%). After 20 weeks' gestation, a total of 408 cases of NIHF presented, including Hb Bart's disease (279 cases), cardiac abnormalities (27 cases), and infection (7 cases). NIHF caused by chromosomal abnormalities mainly presented between 15 and 19 weeks' gestation. Of the 482 cases, 459 cases elected termination of pregnancy. The remaining 23 cases elected to continue their pregnancy. Among them, 14 (60.9%) resulted in intrauterine fetal death, 6 had neonatal death, 3 infants survived to 1 year of age. Of the three infants, one has cerebral palsy, and the remaining two are normal. Conclusions  Hb Bart's disease is the most common cause of NIHF in Southern China. An effective prenatal screening and counseling program for thalassemia in this region may be the most effective way to lower the incidence NIHF.