Premium
Fetal cardiac output in monochorionic twins
Author(s) -
Sueters M.,
Middeldorp J. M.,
Lopriore E.,
Bökenkamp R.,
Oepkes D.,
Teunissen K. A.,
Kanhai H. H. H.,
Cessie S. Le,
Vandenbussche F. P. H. A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.6230
Subject(s) - medicine , monochorionic twins , gestational age , fetus , birth weight , obstetrics , singleton , laser therapy , twin to twin transfusion syndrome , pregnancy , laser , genetics , physics , optics , biology
Abstract Objectives To compare fetal cardiac output (CO) in donor and recipient twins of twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) pregnancies after laser therapy with that of monochorionic twins without TTTS and normal singletons. Methods In a longitudinal, prospective study, we sonographically assessed fetal CO in donors ( n = 10) and recipients ( n = 10) with TTTS after fetoscopic laser therapy, in monochorionic twins without TTTS ( n = 20) and in normal singleton pregnancies ( n = 20). The fetal CO of TTTS twins was determined 1 day and 1 week after laser treatment, and from then on every 2–4 weeks until birth. Twins without TTTS were examined biweekly until birth. Singletons were examined twice, with an 8‐week interval, at different gestational ages between 17 and 35 weeks. Results Absolute CO increased exponentially with advancing gestational age ( P < 0.0001), and was significantly related to fetal weight in all groups ( P < 0.0001). The median CO/kg in donors after laser therapy, recipients after laser therapy and non‐TTTS monochorionic twins was significantly higher than that in singletons (all P < 0.001). Median CO/kg in donors after laser therapy, recipients after laser therapy, and non‐TTTS monochorionic twins was not significantly different between groups. Conclusions Monochorionic twins with TTTS have higher CO after laser therapy than normal singletons. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.