Hydrops

An abnormal, excessive accumulation of watery fluid within tissues, cells, or body cavities, resulting in localized or generalized edema. In obstetrics, it often refers to fetal hydrops, defined sonographically by abnormal fluid collections in two or more fetal compartments (skin, pleural cavity, pericardial cavity, or peritoneal cavity).

Causes

• Fetal causes

  • Heart failure

  • Fetal anemia

  • Chromosomal disorders

  • Twin pregnancy, particularly twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

  • Congenital infections

  • Structural fetal abnormalities

  • Fetal arrhythmias

• Maternal-fetal blood group incompatibility (immune-mediated hydrops)

  • Rh incompatibility

  • Other antigen incompatibilities causing hemolytic disease of the fetus

• Adult causes of generalized fluid accumulation

  • Heart failure

  • Liver cirrhosis

  • Kidney failure

  • Lymphedema

  • Severe hypoalbuminemia

  • Nephrotic syndrome

• Sepsis: Increased vascular permeability

• Congenital lymphatic abnormalities