Fetal growth after laser therapy for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to compare twin weight discordance and prevalence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) before laser therapy and after birth in pregnancies complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).


METHODS
Women with TTTS who underwent laser therapy with dual neonatal survivors born at least 28 days after surgery were studied. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) discordance at the preoperative sonogram and birthweight (BW) discordance were calculated. Weights below gestational age-corrected 10th percentile at sonogram and at birth for each twin were designated as IUGR.


RESULTS
Among 211 women studied, the mean EFW discordance measured 26.6% and mean BW discordance was 18.4%, yielding a mean 8.2% decrease in weight discordance (P < .001). Comparing IUGR diagnoses before surgery and at birth, the recipient's proportion was unchanged (9.5% vs 7.1%, P = .353), whereas the donor's proportion decreased (64.5% vs 28.9%, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Twin weight discordance and donor fetus IUGR appear to improve after laser therapy for TTTS.
Chmait
Ramen H
RH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. chmait@usc.edu
Korst
Lisa M
LM
Bornick
Patricia W
PW
Allen
Mary H
MH
Quintero
Rubén A
RA
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology; D020567:Fetal Weight; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000601:surgery*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal