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.