NONIMMUNE HYDROPS-FETALIS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRED FETAL MOVEMENT - ACASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) is due to many different causes, Fet al hypomobility has been alluded to as a possible cause, We present a preterm fetus with NIHF secondary to fetal hypomobility, Fetal movemen ts were undetected after the 20th week of gestation, The infant was bo rn 8 weeks later and was edematous, had pleural effusions, and no spon taneous movements, He died on day four of life, Diffuse massive centra l nervous system (CNS) destruction found on post-mortem examination wa s thought to be the origin of the hypomobility, As all other causes of NIHF were eliminated, we propose that the NIHF in this infant was due to the hypomobility. This case then gives support to the assertion th at fetal hypomobility is another cause of NIHF, The cause of the CNS c atastrophy remains unelucidated. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.