What is Hydrops Fetalis?

Hydrops fetalis is a serious condition in which abnormal amounts of fluid build up in two or more body areas of a fetus. There are two types of hydrops fetalis: 1. immune and 2. non-immune.

1. Immune hydrops is a complication of Rhesus incompatibility in which the mother’s immune system recognises the fetal blood as foreign, resulting in an immune response against the fetal blood a massive destruction of the fetal red blood cells, causing body swelling. This can be treated by fetal medicine specialists.
2. Non-immune hydrops occurs when a disease or medical condition disrupts the body’s ability to manage fluid. There can be many different causes, for example, genetic or chromosomal syndromes, infections, and heart or lung problems. The exact treatment will depend on the underlying cause.

Because hydrops is a very serious condition, you will be referred to the tertiary fetal medicine unit at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol for further scans, tests and general care. Your fetal medicine specialist will explain all your options for testing and management to you.