Transitory increase in middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity of recipient twins after fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
It was the aim of this study to elucidate the clinical features of recipient twins with increased middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) after fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.


METHODS
Serial Doppler velocimetry of the MCA was performed in 30 recipient twins before and after FLP. Clinical data and perinatal outcome were compared between cases with and without increased MCA-PSV.


RESULTS
Increased MCA-PSV was observed in 7 recipients (23.3%) within 14 days after FLP. MCA-PSV gradually decreased to <1.5 multiples of median in 6 recipients; however, 1 patient resulted in fetal demise subsequent to the demise of the co-twin. The incidences of fetal and neonatal demise and neurological morbidity were similar. No recipient was diagnosed as anemic at birth.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in MCA-PSV in recipients following FLP appeared to be generally transitory; this differs from twin anemia-polycythemia sequence.
Ishii
Keisuke
K
Division of Perinatology, Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Maternal and Perinatal Care Center, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan. keisui@sis.seirei.or.jp
Murakoshi
Takeshi
T
Matsushita
Mitsuru
M
Sinno
Takashi
T
Naruse
Hiroo
H
Torii
Yuichi
Y
D000740:Anemia / Q000401:mortality; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005332:Fetoscopy; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D009017:Morbidity; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000401:mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D014427:Twins; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal