title: Characteristics of monochorionic-diamniotic growth-retarded twins during the third trimester.
abstract: The goal of this study was to assess the characteristics of monochorionic-diamniotic (MD) growth-retarded twin infants with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) compared with those without TTTS during the third trimester. Retrospective analyses of the growth patterns and amniotic fluid volumes were performed on 5 MD twin pregnancies in which one or both twins showed growth retardation with TTTS, and the results weve compared with those without TTTS. Eighty-three percent of growth-retarded twin infants without TTTS in MD twin gestation showed an asymmetric growth pattern, while all TTTS cases showed a symmetric pattern (p < 0.05). Polyhydramnios of the co-twin was found in 80% of TTTS cases, while no polyhydramnios was found in patients without TTTS (p < 0.05). Assessment of growth patterns and amniotic fluid volume may be useful to exclude the possibility of TTTS in MD growth-retarded twin pregnancies during the third trimester.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okudaira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D002823:Chorion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal