The influence of twinning on cardiac development.
The risk for a cardiac anomaly in a twin pregnancy is increased, particularly in monochorionic twins. This is relevant in terms of fetal diagnosis as well as for the management of the pregnancy; there are also implications for the neonatal period and possibly beyond. The risk for a cardiac abnormality depends on the type of monochorionic twin as determined by the timing of embryonic division. Prenatal identification of twin type and the relative risks for a cardiac anomaly are discussed along with theories for the aetiology of the different cardiac lesions.
Manning
Nicky
N
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Fetal Cardiology, Oxford Children's Hospital, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom. nicky.manning@orh.nhs.uk
D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000196:embryology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000196:embryology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D038522:Twinning, Monozygotic / Q000502:physiology*; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000502:physiology