Main Findings
This study showed a high incidence of chromosomal anomalies in cases of fetal oedema diagnosed in early pregnancy, with increasing rates seen in progressively more generalised cases of oedema. The incidence of chromosomal anomalies increased with severity of the oedema and the presence of hydrops (12.1% of the nuchal oedema and 26.7% of the generalised oedema cases). Fetuses with reported increased nuchal translucency had a measurement over 2.2 mm which is the 95th percentile for gestation, based on previously published charts for NT in fetuses with CRL < 45 mm.5 Clinically relevant chromosomal anomalies in our series were present in more than one fifth of the cases which is higher than expected. While fetal oedema can be seen as the presentation of various disorders other than chromosomal anomalies, namely fetal infection, fetal anemia secondary to conditions like thalassemia and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome,6 the aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of fetal oedema with a focus on chromosomal and structural anomalies.