Fetal Hydrops and Congenital Infections Quiz

Fetal Hydrops and Associated Conditions

• Fetal hydrops is characterized by excessive accumulation of fluid in fetal compartments, leading to various sonographic features.
• Mortality rate for fetal hydrops is significant, with estimates ranging between 25% to 75%, depending on gestational age and underlying causes.
• Latin term for "edema of fetus" is "hydrops fetalis."
• Less common findings in fetal hydrops may include pleural effusion or pericardial effusion specifically when limited to one area.
• Generalized infiltration of edematous fluid into subcutaneous tissue is termed "edema."
• Blood group system for categorizing blood by antigens is the ABO blood group system.
• Maternal antibodies attacking fetal red blood cells is known as "hemolytic disease of the newborn" (HDN).
• Isoimmunization occurs during pregnancies where there is Rh incompatibility, particularly when an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus.
• Main cause of immune fetal hydrops is Rh incompatibility, leading to severe anemia in the fetus.
• Treatment for immune hydrops due to Rh incompatibility typically involves the administration of Rh immunoglobulin (WinRho) during pregnancy.
• Nonimmune hydrops is now more common, largely due to effective management of Rh incompatibility with Rh immunoglobulin.
• Most common classification of hydrops fetalis is immune hydrops, caused by blood group incompatibility.
• Condition characterized by fetal hydrops associated with severe maternal preeclampsia is known as "preeclampsia-associated hydrops."
• Second most common cause of nonimmune hydrops fetalis is cardiovascular defects in the fetus.
• Nonimmune hydrops fetalis can also be associated with fetal infections, chromosomal anomalies, or structural defects.
• Term for production of antibodies against the tissues of another individual of the same species is "alloimmunization."
• Most common cause of immune fetal hydrops is Rh isoimmunization.
• Various conditions can lead to the development of hydrops in a fetus, including infections, anemia, or cardiac defects.
• Molecule capable of inducing an immune response is called an "antigen."
• Pitfalls for misdiagnosing hydrops fetalis may include confusion with other conditions that mimic the appearance of hydrops.
• Distinguishing feature of pseudoascites is the absence of true fluid separation seen in genuine ascites.
• Among listed TORCH infections, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common.
• Infection characterized by massive ascites with fluid surrounding the liver and bowel is often attributed to viral infections such as CMV or parvovirus.
• Increased nuchal translucency and signs of infection with pericardial effusion are associated with infections like toxoplasmosis or CMV.
• Severe chronic encephalitis along with asymmetric hydrocephaly characterized by internal debris and periventricular calcifications is indicative of congenital infections, notably caused by Zika virus.
• Inflammation and abnormal calcifications in the placenta are often related to infections such as toxoplasmosis.
• Most common cause of nonimmune fetal hydrops is structural defects or fetal infections.