Severe fetal anaemia caused by congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Abstract

A 22-year-old pregnant woman was referred to our fetal medicine unit due to severe fetal growth restriction at 26 weeks of gestation. An extensive detailed ultrasound revealed signs of bilateral periventricular hyperechogenicity, suggesting fetal infection potentially due to cytomegalovirus (CMV). Doppler ultrasound showed a high peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery. Percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling confirmed fetal CMV infection and severe fetal anaemia. We present this case to highlight the importance of fetal anaemia, which can be fatal regardless of whether it is associated with generalised oedema or hydrops fetalis.