Venous Doppler studies in low-output and high-output hydrops fetalis

New insights gained from this study are that hydrops caused by severe anemia because of hemoglobin Bart's is not associated with high central venous pressures as is seen in hydropic fetuses with coronary heart disease. This suggests that cardiac decompensation is not the primary mechanism of hydrops in these anemic fetuses. Additionally, umbilical vein pulsations are not a sign of cardiac failure in the anemic group.