Hydrops foetalis caused by hepatic haemangioma

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