Intrauterine anoxic brain damage in nonimmune hydrops fetalis.

A case is presented of a live-born infant with nonimmune hydrops fetalis who survived for 9 h. Neuropathological examination revealed extensive neuronal loss and gliosis in the subcortical gray nuclei suggestive of anoxic brain damage some weeks before birth. In addition the cerebellum was found to be hypoplastic and immature. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms in relation to the hydrops are discussed. In view of the scanty documentation of cerebral lesions in the literature, more detailed examinations of the central nervous system in all cases of hydrops are suggested.