Fetal Cardiac Rhabdomyoma With Hydrops Fetalis

Rhabdomyoma is the most common cardiac tumor in fetuses, often associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex, especially when multiple tumors and a positive family history of tuberous sclerosis are noted. The tumor is often benign and has a tendency to regress but may increase in size until the early third trimester. Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma complicated by hydrops fetalis and leading to fetal death is rare. We report 2 cases of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma with hydrops fetalis and provide a review of the literature.     

Pregnancy outcomes amongst thalassemia traits

Objective

To compare the pregnancy outcome between pregnancies affected and not affected by thalassemia trait.

Methods

A retrospective case–control cohort study was conducted on singleton pregnant women who attended antenatal care and delivered at Songklanagarind Hospital. All of the participating thalassemia trait pregnant women were diagnosed based on hemoglobin typing and/or DNA analysis. A ratio of around 1–1 was used to compare their pregnancy outcomes with normal pregnant women.

Results

Seven hundred thirty-nine thalassemia trait and 799 normal pregnant women were included in the study. All of the women were Thai nationals living in the Southern Region of Thailand and nearly all of them had spontaneously conceived. Maternal complication rates of gestational diabetes, preterm birth, antepartum bleeding, postpartum bleeding, shoulder dystocia and puerperal morbidity, and the rates of neonatal complications: macrosomia, fetal weight <2,000 g, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth, low Apgar score (<7) at 1 and 5 min and NICU admission, were not significantly different between the two groups. The rate of pre-eclampsia, however, was significantly different, with RRs of 1.73 (CI 1.01–3.00).

Conclusion

The thalassemia trait condition did not affect the risk of gestational diabetes, postpartum hemorrhage, stillbirth, preterm birth and puerperal morbidity. However, pre-eclampsia should be warranted especially among nulliparous and high-BMI pregnant women.