The pathology of non-Rhesus hydrops

The pathological findings in 50 cases of non-Rhesus hydrops are presented. In 19, pregnancy terminated before the twenty-eighth week of gestation; there were five chromosomally abnormal fetuses and a further six with structural abnormality in this group. Three of 31 infants from the more mature group survived, 16 were stillborn and 12 died in the neonatal period. Nineteen infants had malformations, 14 of these being cardiovascular malformation. Five infants had evidence of intra-uterine infection. Intra-uterine heart failure is the commonest cause of the hydrops.