title: Fetal and postnatal brain MRI in premature infants with twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the findings on fetal and postnatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in premature infants with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and to determine whether currently used staging systems and other fetal and postnatal factors correlate with brain injury in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prospective study of 22 premature infants with TTTS whose mothers had fetal MRIs. Postnatal brain MRI was performed at term equivalent age (38 to 44 weeks) and medical records were reviewed. Brain injury was scored on fetal and postnatal MRIs using an injury scale incorporating hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (range) gestational age (GA) was 31 weeks (26 to 35) and birth weight (BW) was 1296 g (762 to 2330). In all, 5/22 patients (23%) had brain injury seen on fetal MRI and 15/22 patients (68%) had brain injury seen on postnatal MRI. Quintero stage was the only predictor variable that was significantly correlated with the total brain injury score (P=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postnatal brain injury in premature infants with TTTS is correlated with Quintero stage. GA and BW are not predictive of brain injury in this cohort of infants.
authors: Perinatal Institute, Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. stephanie.merhar@cchmc.org
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Merhar
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Kline-Fath
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Meinzen-Derr
authors: K R
authors: KR
authors: Schibler
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Leach
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate