What is hydrops fetalis?
Also known as: Fetal hydrops, hydrops, erythroblastosis fetalis.
Hydrops fetalis is an abnormal collection of fluid in at least two different organ spaces (like the skin, abdomen, around the heart and/or lungs) causing massive swelling. It is a severe, life-threatening problem in fetuses and/or newborns.
There are two major types:
- immune (also called erythroblastosis fetalis)
- non-immune hydrops
Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP
This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM
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