Which form of hydrops presents with edema at least in two sites and tachycardia of 200-240 bpm?

• A. Immune hydrops
• B. Hydrops fetalis
• C. Nonimmune hydrops
• D. Anasarca

Answer: (C)

Hydrops fetalis refers to abnormal fluid accumulation in multiple fetal compartments. When edema is present in at least two sites and the fetus exhibits marked tachycardia (around 200–240 bpm), this points toward fetal anemia causing a high-output cardiac failure.

Immune hydrops arises from alloimmune destruction of fetal red blood cells (for example, Rh incompatibility), but the scenario described emphasizes anemia-driven high heart rate without specifying alloimmune antibodies. Nonimmune hydrops is hydrops due to causes other than alloimmune hemolysis—such as fetomaternal hemorrhage, infections, twin–twin transfusion, or chromosomal/structural disorders—and often presents with edema in multiple sites along with tachycardia from the anemia.

Anasarca is a broad term for generalized edema, not a distinct form of hydrops. Hydrops fetalis is the general condition, with nonimmune and immune hydrops as etiologies.