Fetal intracranial bleeding has also been reported with maternal anticoagulation. Warfarins, which are known to cross the placenta, have been associated with the fetal warfarin syndrome as well as with fetal bleeding 2 . Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, in rare cases, can produce fetal thrombocytopenia severe enough to cause fetal hemorrhage 3 . Although rare, alloimmune thrombocytopenia is an even more predictable inducer of fetal thrombocytopenia and has been linked to cases of fetal hemorrhage prior to the onset of labor 4 . Vascular anomalies such as aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations can be demonstrated in some cases of intracranial bleeding.
Fetal asphyxia is associated with intraventricular and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Despite knowledge of the aforementioned causes, many cases of fetal intracranial bleeding have no identifiable etiology 5,6 . Prenatal diagnosis Prenatal diagnosis of fetal subdural hematoma has been reported. The characteristic appearance is one of a fluid collection just beneath the cranium which displaces and compresses brain matter. The appearance of the fluid may vary, depending on the age of the clot. Acute hemorrhage will appear homogeneous.