Human parvovirus B19 associated non-immune hydrops fetalis.

Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) in a relatively rare syndrome associated with different etiologies, usually due to chromosomal aberrations or cardiac anomalies. Human parvovirus B 19 (HPV B 19) associated intrauterine infections. NIHF and fetal loss have been reported lately. HPV B19 passes through the placenta and infects eiythroid progenitor cells with subsequent lysis, anemia and hydrops. Fetal liver cells may be infected at the same time. The rate of HPV B 19 infection in NIHF cases is unknown but estimated to be about 10%. In anautopsy series, HPV B19 was found in 0.7% of all cases and in 16% of hydropic cases. We present a non-irnmune hydrops case, which was due to HPV B 19 infection and discuss the recent issues governing this disease.