title: Dichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy complicated by twin anemia polycythemia sequence: the place of fetal therapy.
abstract: Monochorionic twins as part of a high order multiple pregnancy can be an unintended consequence of the increasingly common practice of blastocyst transfer for couples requiring in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for infertility. Dichorionic triamniotic (DCTA) triplets is the most common presentation, and these pregnancies are particularly high risk because of the additional risks associated with monochorionicity. Surveillance for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, including twin anemia polycythemia sequence, may be more difficult, and any intervention to treat the monochorionic pair needs to balance the proposed benefits against the risks posed to the unaffected singleton. Counseling of families with DCTA triplets is therefore complex. Here, we report a case of DCTA triplets, where the pregnancy was complicated by threatened preterm labour, and twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS) was later diagnosed at 28 weeks. The TAPS was managed with a single intraperitoneal transfusion, enabling safe prolongation of the pregnancy for over 2 weeks until recurrence of TAPS and preterm labour supervened. Postnatal TAPS was confirmed, and all three infants were later discharged home at term corrected age, and were normal at follow-up. This case highlights that in utero therapy has an important role in multiple pregnancies of mixed chorionicity, and can achieve safe prolongation of pregnancy at critical gestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatal Medicine,Mercy Hospital for Women,Melbourne,Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Thérèse H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Griersmith
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatal Medicine,Mercy Hospital for Women,Melbourne,Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatal Medicine,Mercy Hospital for Women,Melbourne,Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; D002823:Chorion; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D059286:Pregnancy, Triplet