Hydrops foetalis caused by hepatic haemangioma

The authors report a moderately premature baby with Down's syndrome and hydrops, the latter probably caused by a large hepatic haemangioma which was diagnosed only after birth. At birth the baby was affected by massive right hydrothorax, ascites, hypoalbuminaemia and severe respiratory distress. With the use of modern neonatal intensive care, the baby survived. Corticosteroid treatment (prednisolone 2 mg kg(-1) d(-1) i.v. in divided doses) was associated with a very rapid resolution of the haemangioma and the baby was healthy at follow-up. Although hepatic angiomas are not uncommon in the neonatal period, the association with hydrops is a rare finding.