Maternal syphilis infection is a common infectious cause of nonimmune hydrops fetalis. Generally, hydrops fetalis is equated with poor prognoses in affected pregnancies. A 38-year-old G5P2114 presented at 285/7 weeks' gestation with newly diagnosed primary syphilis infection, sonographic findings of hydrops fetalis, and elevated middle cerebral artery Dopplers concerning for fetal anemia. Following treatment with intramuscular penicillin, the symptoms of hydrops fetalis were resolved and our patient delivered a healthy male neonate with no signs of congenital syphilis at the time of delivery. Routine and early testing for syphilis is an important component of prenatal care. Though not previously documented, the secondary findings of suspected fetal syphilis may be able to completely resolve in utero with penicillin treatment.
Keywords fetal syphilis - maternal syphilis - hydrops fetalis - penicillin - early testing Informed ConsentPatient consent was obtained prior to writing this report.
Publication HistoryReceived: 07 August 2022
Accepted: 02 January 2023
Accepted Manuscript online:
06 February 2023
Article published online:
16 March 2023
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