American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 203, Issue 1 , Pages 54.e1-54.e5, July 2010

Clinical outcome in neonates with twin anemia-polycythemia sequence

Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society, Amazon, Brazil, Sept. 6-10, 2009, and at the 4th Annual Symposium on Monochorionic Multiple Pregnancies of the Eurofetus group, Barcelona, Spain, May 22-23, 2009.

  • Enrico Lopriore, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Femke Slaghekke, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Dick Oepkes, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Johanna M. Middeldorp, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Frank P. Vandenbussche, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Frans J. Walther, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands

Received 25 September 2009; received in revised form 29 October 2009; accepted 10 February 2010. published online 26 April 2010.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate neonatal outcome of monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS).

Study Design

A cohort of consecutive monochorionic twins with TAPS with double survivors was included in the study. Each twin pair with TAPS was compared with 2 monochorionic twin pairs who were unaffected by TAPS or twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and who were matched for gestational age at birth. Neonatal death, severe morbidity, and cerebral injury were studied.

Results

We included 19 twin pairs in the TAPS group and 38 control twin pairs. The incidence of neonatal death and severe neonatal morbidity was similar in the TAPS group and control group (3% [1/38] vs 1% [1/76] and 24% [9/38] vs 28% [21/76], respectively). Severe cerebral injury was detected in 1 infant (5%) in the TAPS group and 1 infant (2%) in the control group.

Conclusion

Neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in a select population of TAPS neonates are similar to control neonatal rates.

Key words: anemia, monochorionic twins, polycythemia, twin anemia-polycythemia sequence, twin-twin transfusion syndrome

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 30.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 Authorship and contribution to the article is limited to the 6 authors indicated. There was no outside funding or technical assistance with the production of this article.

 Cite this article as: Lopriore E, Slaghekke F, Oepkes D, et al. Clinical outcome in neonates with twin anemia-polycythemia sequence. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010;203:54.e1-5.

 Reprints not available from the authors.

PII: S0002-9378(10)00245-0

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2010.02.032

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 203, Issue 1 , Pages 54.e1-54.e5, July 2010

Article Tools