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Original article
Growth after intrauterine laser coagulation for twin–twin transfusion syndrome
  1. C Maschke1,
  2. A R Franz1,
  3. B Ellenrieder1,
  4. K Hecher2,
  5. A Diemert2,
  6. P Bartmann2
  1. 1Department of Neonatology, University Childrens' Hospital, Bonn, Germany
  2. 2Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
  1. Correspondence to Dr Cornelia Maschke, Department of Neonatology, University Childrens' Hospital, Adenauerallee 119, Bonn 53113, Germany; cornelia.graef{at}ukb.uni-bonn.de

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate prenatal and postnatal growth of twins with twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) after intrauterine laser coagulation.

Study design The weight and length of 54 sets of twins with severe TTTS surviving intrauterine laser coagulation at the intervention (median 20+4 weeks), at birth (median 34+3 weeks) and on the occasion of neurodevelopmental follow-up (median age 3 years 10 months) were investigated. All data were converted to Z scores, and groups were compared by two-tailed paired t test.

Results At all time points, donors are significantly lighter than recipients (p<0.001). After laser treatment the weight Z score of donors until birth remains unchanged (p=0.76), whereas recipients lose weight significantly (p<0.01). Postnatally, both donors and recipients show catch-up growth.

Conclusion Intrauterine laser coagulation stops growth acceleration in recipients that leads to a decrease in intertwin discordance. After birth, significant catch-up growth was observed for the donor group (p<0.001).

https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2009.166082

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests None.

    • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the institutional ethics committee of the University Hospital Bonn.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Detail has been removed from this case description/these case descriptions to ensure anonymity. The editors and reviewers have seen the detailed information available and are satisfied that the information backs up the case the authors are making.