Fetal hydrops is an uncommon, but frequently-lethal, complication of pregnancy. Hydrops
can result from any of diverse etiologies, although it has classically been divided
into immune and nonimmune hydrops. While the etiology for many cases can be determined
prenatally, pathologists are nearly always called on to identify the underlying cause
for those cases that remain unexplained at the time of delivery or termination. This
brief review will be confined to nonimmune hydrops, and the discussion will particularly
focus on the role of the pathologist in evaluating this condition.
Keywords
Nonimmune - Hydrops - Autopsy - Genetic testing - Chromosomal microarray - Lysosomal
storage disorder - Anemia - Cardiac anomaly - Fetomaternal hemorrhage - Parvovirus
B19
