Neurodevelopmental outcomes after laser therapy for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a systematic review of the literature regarding the occurrence of neurologic morbidity, neurologic impairment, or neurologic morbidity and impairment of patients treated with laser therapy for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.


METHODS
The PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE databases and reference lists were searched up to December 2010 for studies describing outcomes in laser-treated twin-twin transfusion syndrome pregnancies. METHODS FOR STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria were twin-twin transfusion syndrome diagnosed with standard criteria and treated by laser therapy and neurologic morbidity and neurologic impairment collected at birth or 28 days after birth. Exclusion criteria were omission of at least one criterion; data in graphs or percentage; and non-English publications, letters, personal communications.


RESULTS
Data recorded were rates and length of successful follow-up, age at diagnosis and type of neurologic morbidity, affected donors and recipients, prevalence of neurologic morbidity, and neurologic impairment for twin sets. From 15 articles, the incidence of neurologic morbidity at birth was 55 out of 895 (6.1%), without differences between donors and recipients (19/249, 7.6% compared with 16/273, 5.8%; odds ratio [OR] 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-2.70). At follow-up, the incidence of neurologic impairment was 140 out of 1,255 (11.1%), with cerebral palsy the most frequent (60/151, 39.7%). Neurologic impairment was identified equally between donors and recipients (48/330, 14.5% compared with 54/364, 14.8%; OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.66-1.57), and between one survivor and two survivors for twin sets (24/139, 17.3% compared with 88/489, 18.0%; OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.18-2.49).


CONCLUSIONS
A small number (11.1%) of cases of twin-twin transfusion syndrome treated with laser therapy are affected with neurologic impairment that manifests during infancy. A strict follow-up of apparently healthy neonates is warranted.
From the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Giacomo Hospital, Monopoli, Bari, Italy; and the Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
A Cristina
AC
Rossi
Douglas
D
Vanderbilt
Ramen H
RH
Chmait
D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D046128:Fetal Therapies; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy