Paper

A Rare Case of Posterior Urethral Valve and Pleural Effusion in Down Syndrome with Successful Intrauterine Shunt
Ari Kim, In Yang Park, Lee Young, Jong Chul Shin

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Address of Corresponding Author

Fetal Diagn Ther 2008;24:372-375 (DOI: 10.1159/000164432)

  Key Words

• Down syndrome
• Posterior urethral valve
• Pleural effusion
• Fetal therapy

  Abstract

Posterior urethral valve or pleural effusion accompanied with Down syndrome have been described previously; however, there is no reported case of posterior urethral valve and pleural effusion with Down syndrome. A 45-year-old multigravida woman was transferred due to bilateral fetal hydrothorax, polyhydramnios, and threatened preterm labor at 32 weeks’ gestation. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed additional abnormality, posterior urethral valve. Amniocentesis was repeated due to intense amniotic fluid and patient’s dyspnea. Ultrasound-guided thoracoamniotic shunt and vesicoamniotic shunt were done successfully. At 33 weeks’ gestation, intrauterine infection was suspected by the laboratory findings of amniotic fluid. A 2.25-kg male baby with characteristic phenotypic findings of Down syndrome was delivered by Cesarean section. Cytogenetic analysis after birth revealed a karyotype of 47,XY,+21. The present case reinforces the notions that fetuses with multiple anomalies, like congenital pleural effusion and posterior urethral valve, are at risk of chromosomal abnormalities, in spite of their low possibilities of association with chromosomal abnormalities.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Jong Chul Shin, MD, PhD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea
505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-040 (Republic of Korea)
Tel. +82 2 590 2749, Fax +82 2 595 1549, E-Mail jcshin@catholic.ac.kr

  Article Information

Received: July 26, 2007
Accepted after revision: October 3, 2007
Published online: October 21, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 20