A Case of Non-immune Hydrops Fetalis due to Congenital Syphilis

ABSTRACT

Congenital syphilis is a rare cause of non-immune hydrops fetalis. We cared for a neonate with hydrops fetalis who was delivered by emergency Cesarean section due to prolonged fetal bradycardia and ascites at 34 weeks of gestation. He had anemia, purpura, and hepatosplenomegaly, and the serologic tests revealed congenital syphilis (high titers of serum VDRL and TPHA, and a positive serum FTA-ABS IgM). He survived after aspiration of ascitic fluid, ventilator care, and intravenous penicillin therapy. We report a case of non-immune hydrops fetalis due to congenital syphilis with a brief review of literature.