A new autosomal recessive lethal chondrodystrophy with congenital hydrops

Two sibs, the offspring of consanguineous parents, presented with severe short-limb dwarfism and distinct chondro-osseous, radiologic, and histologic appearance. The first sib presented at 30 wk with severe hydrops following fetal death; the second was detected by ultrasonography at 20 wk. Radiologic abnormalities included an unusual "moth-eaten" appearance of the markedly short long bones, bizzare ectopic ossification centers, and marked platyspondyly with unusual ossification centers. Marked extramedullary erythropoiesis was present in both fetuses, and chondro-osseous histology was characterized by marked disorganization of tissue with interspersed masses of cartilage, bone, and mesenchymal tissue. These sibs appear to have a distinct previously unreported autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia, which can present as hydrops fetalis.