Clinical outcome in neonates with twin anemia-polycythemia sequence.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate neonatal outcome of monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS).


METHODS
A cohort of consecutive monochorionic twins with TAPS with double survivors was included in the study. Each twin pair with TAPS was compared with 2 monochorionic twin pairs who were unaffected by TAPS or twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and who were matched for gestational age at birth. Neonatal death, severe morbidity, and cerebral injury were studied.


RESULTS
We included 19 twin pairs in the TAPS group and 38 control twin pairs. The incidence of neonatal death and severe neonatal morbidity was similar in the TAPS group and control group (3% [1/38] vs 1% [1/76] and 24% [9/38] vs 28% [21/76], respectively). Severe cerebral injury was detected in 1 infant (5%) in the TAPS group and 1 infant (2%) in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in a select population of TAPS neonates are similar to control neonatal rates.
Lopriore
Enrico
E
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Slaghekke
Femke
F
Oepkes
Dick
D
Middeldorp
Johanna M
JM
Vandenbussche
Frank P
FP
Walther
Frans J
FJ
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic; D014463:Ultrasonography
D006454:Hemoglobins