Sinusoidal fetal heart rate pattern associated with congenital hydrocephalus. A report of 2 cases.

Two cases of hydrocephalus with an intrapartum sinusoidal heart rate pattern are presented. In the first patient, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and congenital hydrocephalus was made antenatally. Intrapartum the fetal heart showed intermittent periods of a sinusoidal pattern, alternating with a normal heart rate pattern. At birth there were signs of congenital toxoplasmosis. In the second patient there was a sinusoidal heart rate pattern associated with late decelerations and a loss of beat-to-beat variation. A brief review of the literature shows that the debate still continues over the aetiology, pathogenesis and prognosis of this entity.