Mucopolysaccharidosis VII as cause of fetal hydrops in early pregnancy

We report on fetal hydrops presenting at 18 weeks of gestation and diagnosed as beta-glucuronidase deficiency. The parents were first cousins and there were 2 previous similar fetal deaths. beta-Glucuronidase was absent in cultured fetal fibroblasts and lymphoblasts but was normal in the tested relatives. The activities of other lysosomal enzymes were normal.