Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: what are appropriate diagnostic criteria?
One hundred seventy-eight consecutive twin pregnancies were studied to reevaluate the standard diagnostic criteria for chronic twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome of an intertwin hemoglobin difference greater than 5 gm/dl and a birth weight difference greater than 20%. Hemoglobin differences greater than 5 gm/dl were found in six pregnancies with monochorionic placentas but also in seven with dichorionic placentas. Birth weight differences greater than 20% occurred no more commonly in monochorionic than in dichorionic pregnancies. Of the four pregnancies with a coexisting hemoglobin difference greater than 5 gm/dl and birth weight difference greater than 20%, only one had a monochorionic placenta and therefore likelihood of vascular anastomoses. Diagnosis of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome cannot be definitively established by current standard diagnostic criteria.
Department of Midwifery, University of Glasgow, Queen Mother's Hospital, Scotland.
F H
FH
Danskin
J P
JP
Neilson
D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic; D014680:Veins
D006454:Hemoglobins