Figure 5.

The possible roles of placenta-derived exosomes in the pathogenesis of Bart’s hydrops fetalis. Features of fetus with Bart’s hydrops are hepatosplenomegaly, cardiomegaly, ascites, pleural effusion, skin edema, and/or placentomegaly. Women with Bart’s hydropic fetuses can be presented with preeclampsia features called “mirror syndrome”. Placental hypoxia in Bart’s hydrops fetus is hypothesized to trigger the release of placental debris or placenta-derived exosomes which enter maternal circulation.