Fetal brain disruption sequence in a newborn infant with a history of cordocentesis at 21 weeks gestation
N Villó, J Beceiro, M Cebrero, E Garcia de Frias
Department of
Pediatrics, University Hospital Principe de Asturias, Alcalá de
Henares, Madrid, Spain
Correspondence to: Dr Villó, Servicio de Pediatria, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Carretera de Alcalá-Meco s/n, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España email: jbeceiro{at}hupa.insalvol.es
Accepted 4 May 2000
The case is reported of a full term infant with severe
microcephaly, overlapping sutures, prominence of the occipital bone, and scalp rugae. No other associated malformations were observed. The
only obstetric history of interest was the performance of cordocentesis
at 21 weeks gestational age because of low maternal 
fetoprotein
levels. Ultrasound scans performed until then were normal. Cranial
growth retardation was detected on ultrasound scanning at 25 weeks and
intrauterine growth retardation as well as severe microcephaly at 34 weeks. Neuroimaging studies performed on the newborn infant showed
intense cerebral atrophy in both hemispheres. Other complementary
investigations gave negative results. A relation is proposed between
the cordocentesis and the development of vascular disruption, which
could have caused the fetal brain disruption sequence in this case.
Keywords: cordocentesis; microcephaly; disruption; vascular encephalopathy; brain; cerebral atrophy
© 2001 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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