Twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a five year review.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence, complications, management, and outcome in infants with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) over a period of five years.

METHODS

TTTS was diagnosed in monochorionic twins if one was pale and the other plethoric with a haemoglobin difference > or =5 g/100 ml and/or birthweight differences > or =15%.

RESULTS

Eighteen (6.2%) of the 292 twin pairs had TTTS. Eight pairs (44%) had the acute type and the rest (56%) had the chronic type of TTTS. The mean (SEM) intrapair haemoglobin difference in the acute type was 4.8 (2.1) g/100 ml which gave a discordance of 7.1 (4.6)%, whereas that in the chronic type was 6.9 (2.9) g/100 ml and 24.4 (6.1)% respectively. Infants with the acute type had a significantly higher incidence of vaginal delivery (p<0.03), hypotension (p<0.025), and respiratory distress (p<0.01) compared with those with the chronic type. There was no significant difference in the incidence of anaemia, polycythaemia, asphyxia, hypoglycaemia, and hyperbilirubinaemia. Two recipients died in utero as the result of chronic TTTS, while their survivors developed spastic cerebral palsy. There were no neonatal deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

TTTS, although uncommon, may have an adverse neurodevelopmental outcome especially if one twin dies in utero. Prompt recognition and management of the haemodynamic and haematological problems of infants with the acute types of TTTS will result in optimal neurodevelopmental outcome.