It is now a globally accepted and time tested fact that elevated fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity as seen on color Doppler is a non-invasive indicator of fetal anemia. Cases describing causes of raised fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocities in the absence of moderate to severe fetal anemia are very rare. We describe one such rare case of a nearly full term male of a diabetic mother whose middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocities were persistently raised

more »

... the absence of any fetal anemia; both in the intra as well as the early extra uterine state of its being. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in this neonate of a diabetic mother was found to be the cause of this temporary increase in blood velocity. The raised values eventually normalized by the 10th day of life by which time the cardiac status of the neonate had improved and stabilized following appropriate medications. Thus fetal anemia alone is not the exclusive cause of elevated fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocities. Elevated velocities in absentia of fetal anemia should prompt an active search for other possible causes, one of which is as mentioned in this report.