Massive idiopathic feto-maternal transfusion associated with dilatation of umbilical vein: case report and review of literature

Abstract

Feto-maternal transfusion (FMT) or haemorrhage occurs when there is an entry of fetal blood into the maternal circulation in pregnancy or during delivery. It has been stated that very small amount of fetal red cells are normally detectable in maternal circulation in all pregnancies. However, massive FMT is rare and even rarer is the resultant severe anaemia which may cause severe fetal morbidity or early neonatal death in apparently uneventful normal pregnancy. Massive FMT is regarded as a pathological condition with a variety of clinical presentations essentially secondary to the fetal anaemia. We present a case of FMT associated with umbilical vein dilation and speculate whether this finding is of prognostic value.