[Nonimmunological hydrops fetalis. Experience with 33 cases]

A retrospective study of all perinatal autopsies done during 11 years at hospital SBA showed 33 cases of nonimmunologic fetal hydrops (1.83% of all perinatal autopsies). The incidence was 1/3624 liveborn babies. Intrauterine fetal infections and chromosome genetic abnormalities accounted for 27.3% each; and in 15.2% of the cases some pathology of pregnancy was identified (including twining). All the cases showed severe anemia and in 58% of them pulmonary hypoplasia was identified. Moreover 31% of the cases showed renal hypoplasia. A placenta megaly was identified in 100% of the cases studied. The three most important mechanisms associate with the genesis of nonimmune fetal hydrops are: chronic intrauterine anemia, hypoproteinemia and intrauterine fetal heart failure.