FETAL HYDROPS IN THE FIRST-TRIMESTER ASSOCIATED WITH MATERNAL PARVOVIRUS INFECTION

We present a case of fetal hydrops associated with maternal parvovirus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy that sonographicall y mimicked findings associated with fetal aneuploidy. The transabdomin al sonograms of this fetus at 12.9 weeks' gestational age were consist ent with increased nuchal Translucency thickness. Transvaginal sonogra phic evaluation of the fetus showed generalized subcutaneous sonolucen cy suggestive of early fetal hydrops. An etiologic evaluation identifi ed serologic evidence of recent maternal parvovirus infection and a no rmal karyotype. The pregnancy ended in fetal demise. Our findings sugg est that visualization of nuchal translucency thickening in the first trimester should prompt a complete sonographic evaluation for fetal hy drops, which, if identified, should lead to serologic evaluation for p arvovirus infection. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.