Supervisors info:
Παπαντωνίου Νικόλαος, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Καλανταρίδου Σοφία, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κασσάνος Δημήτριος, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
The term fetal anemia states any deficiency in the quantity or quality of red blood cells in the fetal circulation. It is a relatively rare but serious condition. An immune‐related cause is most common, involving red‐blood‐cell (RBC) alloimmunization, followed by non‐immune causes, such as parvovirus B19 infection and, more rarely, hemoglobinopathies, fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) and monochorionic twin complications, among others. Several advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of fetal anemia. High‐resolution ultrasound now permits accurate, non‐invasive screening by measurement of the middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA‐PSV), replacing serial amniocenteses for fetal anemia screening. Refinement of fetal blood sampling (FBS) and intrauterine transfusion (IUT) techniques has resulted in close to 90% survival of anemic fetuses, with very good long‐term neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this review, we discuss the most common etiologies of fetal anemia, current screening and diagnostic tools, management of fetal anemia, including FBS/IUT techniques and associated risks and benefits, as well as short‐ and long‐term outcomes following IUT.
