Latent tuberculosis-induced hydrops fetalis with congenital tuberculosis

A 37-year-old primiparity woman in her 26th week of gestation was transferred to the obstetrical unit of a tertiary-care center for the evaluation of hydrops fetalis. Ultrasonographic findings were normal except for fetal ascites and pleural effusion. In spite of fetal treatment of ascites and pleural effusion, the patient underwent an emergency cesarean section in her 29th week of gestation, due to non-reassuring fetal heart rate. The infant died on day 18 and was diagnosed with congenital tuberculosis (TB). The mother had no symptoms related to lung or extra-pulmonary organ invasion caused by TB. The mother was diagnosed with latent TB during postpartum period. As a result of this case, the authors recommend that physicians suspect latent TB as one of the causes of non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) and include maternal infection of TB in the evaluation of NIHF, particularly in countries with a high prevalence of TB.