Rapidly Regressive Unilateral Fetal Pleural Effusion

Intrauterine pleural effusion of fetal lungs rarely regresses without intervention. In our case we treated a women at 32th weeks of gestation. Her pregnancy was complicated with fetal pleural effusion and polyhydramniosis. A therapeutic thoracocentesis was planned and she received two courses of betamethasone prior to procedure. On the day of planned procedure, a substantial regression of pleural effusion was observed and procedure was postponed. During her antenatal follow-up a complete regression of pleural effusion was observed. After delivery pleural effusion did not relapse. These findings hint there may be a role of antenatal steroids in treatment of fetal pleural effusion, which is known to be resistant to treatment modalities both during antenatal and postnatal period.