Transplacental Digitalization for Nonimmune Hydrops Fetalis Caused by Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium

Abstract

Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (NCVM) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy with a poor prognosis, and it is characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses. This disease is speculated to occur because of arrest of the normal myocardial development process during early embryogenesis. In symptomatic infants, cardiac transplantation may be the only current curative option. Although NCVM is a congenital disorder, there are only a few previous reports on its status during fetal life. Here we report a case of nonimmune hydrops fetalis caused by this rare disease; in this case, digoxin administration to the mother could improve the fetal hemodynamics, and evaluation of the circulatory state of the fetus by using the preload index of the inferior vena cava (PLI) was proven to be sensitive and useful.