Fetal cerebellar damage in fetuses with severe anemia undergoing intrauterine transfusions

To evaluate radiologic findings and outcomes of cerebellar injuries in fetuses with severe anemia due to RhD alloimmunization undergoing intrauterine transfusions.

Imaging of multiplanar neurosonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were reviewed. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded.

Cerebellar injuries were identified after the first intravascular transfusion in four fetuses. Two of these cases were previously reported. The median hemoglobin concentration was 2.1 g/dL. Prenatal neurosonography identified an echogenic collection involving the cerebellum suggestive for hemorrhage in three cases. A progressive hypoplasia of a hemisphere was demonstrated at follow-up examination in one of these cases. Hypoplasia of a cerebellar hemisphere was seen in the fourth fetus. Ultrasound diagnosis was confirmed by prenatal MRI in two cases. In the third case, the postnatal MRI showed as additional finding vermian involvement. One pregnancy was terminated and autopsy confirmed the presence of infratentorial hemorrhage. The remaining infants were delivered alive. At time of writing, a truncal ataxia was diagnosed in the child with vermian hypoplasia, while the other children have met all age-appropriate milestones.

A severe anemia seems to put the fetus at risk of cerebellar damage, despite successful intravascular transfusion.