Umbilical vein blood flow measurement in nonimmune hydrops fetalis.

Twenty-five measurements of fetal umbilical vein blood flow were performed in 22 cases of nonimmune hydrops fetalis using real-time and pulsed Doppler duplex ultrasound. The umbilical vein diameter, blood velocity, and blood flow in fetuses with hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis were usually higher than those in fetuses with hydrops fetalis from other causes. Umbilical vein blood flow measurement appears to be an effective technique for differentiating hemoglobin Bart's from non-Bart's hydrops in this series. This hemodynamic characteristic of umbilical vein blood flow may be helpful in determining the etiology of nonimmune hydrops fetalis.