Trisomy 13 and Massive Fetomaternal Hemorrhage

This is the first case report of trisomy 13 complicated by massive fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH). A pale male infant weighing 2,950 g was delivered with low Apgar scores by emergency cesarean section due to non-reassuring fetal status. The umbilical arterial pH and hemoglobin level were 6.815 and 6.9 g/dL (normal: 13 - 22 g/dL), respectively. The maternal hemoglobin-F and serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were 6.0% (normal: < 1.0%) and 1,150 ng/mL (4.1 multiple of median), respectively. The neonate was diagnosed as having trisomy 13 by a subsequent chromosome examination. In the placenta, massive intervillous thrombosis was observed microscopically. This placental finding has been reported to be associated with both preeclampsia and massive FMH. In addition, the incidence of preeclampsia in pregnancies complicated by trisomy 13 has been reported to be significantly higher than normal karyotype populations. Therefore, the current finding may support the association between trisomy 13 and the incidence of massive FMH.