fMRI , PET and NIRS 3 - 3 - 14 : Fetal magnetocardiogram of cases of non - immune fetal hydrops of non - cardiovascular origin

Non-immune hydrops fetalis is defined as presence of excess fluid in two or more body areas, such as the abdomen, thorax, or skin, excluding immune etiology. Major causes of non-immune fetal hydrops are fetal heart diseases and abnormal chromosome. In spite of accumulated reports of fetal magentocardiograms (FMCG) for heart diseases, FMCG for fetal hydrops of non-cardiac origin has seldom been reported. We described here two cases of fetal hydrops of non-cardiac origin. Case 1. This case was referred to us due to fetal ascites and polyhydramnion. The chromosome of fetal ascites was 46, XX. Coproporphyrin and virus culture of fetal ascites were negative. Ultrasonography documented no fetal cardiovascular anomaly. FMCG was recorded for 2 min at 30 wks' gestation using a 64-channel SQUID system. Raw sequential recording of FMCG after filtering and removal of maternal signals showed no arrhythmia. Averaged FMCG triggered at R waves revealed prolonged QTc of 435 ms, which was slightly longer than the QTc standard value. The infant was born at 38 wks with a small amount of ascites, which disappeared within 2 wks after birth. The final diagnosis of fetal hydrops was idiopathic. Case 2. This case was referred to us at 29 wks' gestation because of fetal ascites. The chromosome of fetal ascites was 46, XY and coproporphyrin in fetal ascites increased. Ultrasonography documented no fetal cardiovascular anomaly. FMCG at 33 wks revealed no arrhythmia and slightly prolonged QTc interval of 416 ms. The prenatal diagnosis was meconium peritonitis. As a summary of the cases, fetuses with non-immune hydrops of non-cardiac origin might have prolonged QTc.