Shedding light on the cause of a dangerous condition that can develop in unborn babies

An investigation into the aetiology and genetics of fetal oedema/hydrops with a focus on lymphatic-related hydrops (Dr Esther Dempsey)

Foetal hydrops is a rare but very serious condition in which an unborn baby accumulates excessive fluid within their body. Six out of ten babies with foetal hydrops die, and those that survive often have very severe complications. There are many causes of the condition, and in the UK the most common is due to abnormalities of the circulatory and lymphatic systems. However, often the underlying cause is not known. Dr Pia Ostergaard and her team at St George’s Hospital now wish to uncover how and why this tragic condition can develop during some pregnancies. To do this, they are collaborating with five specialist centres in London and Southampton where babies with this condition are treated. They will scour records from past cases of foetal hydrops to search for patterns in the mothers’ medical circumstances. Then they will use databases containing the genomes of thousands of people to see if they can spot potential changes in the DNA of families affected by foetal hydrops, to see if they can find genes related to the condition. Through this research the team hope to shed more light on this poorly understood condition. Finding the genes responsible could lead to more rapid diagnosis, counselling for pregnant women who are at the highest risk, and the possibility of a treatment in the future.