Pathogenesis of acardiac twinning: clues from an almost acardiac twin

Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
R W DriggersG M Hutchins

Abstract

To search for clues to the pathogenesis of acardiac twinning. We examined a case of monoamniotic twins in which twin A's only sonographic abnormality was a dilated, tortuous ductus venosus. Twin B also had this abnormality as well as multiple other anomalies that included enormous hydrops and a severely hypoplastic heart. Following termination of pregnancy, autopsy was performed. Postmortem examination of the placenta confirmed monochorionic, monoamniotic placentation with two adjacent trivascular cords. Autopsy confirmed the sonographic findings of enormous hydrops in twin B with a severely malformed, almost nonexistent heart. In addition, the liver was small and was represented by a cyst-like structure with thin rims of congested parenchyma surrounding large vascular spaces. We believe the sequence of events in this case was early twin-to-twin transfusion resulting in a dysfunctional heart in twin B. This enabled a twin reversal arterial perfusion sequence with further deterioration of twin B's heart and extreme congestion of deoxygenated blood exiting the heart into the inferior vena cava and ductus venosus. This case supports the concept that circulatory reversal in the face of an initially functioning heart may lead to con...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 14, 2002·Prenatal Diagnosis
Mar 7, 2012·Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics·David Rafael Hartge, Jan Weichert
Apr 15, 2011·Pediatric and Developmental Pathology : the Official Journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society·Sebastian HussAnnette M Müller
Nov 15, 2007·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part a·Joseph R Siebert
Jul 29, 2004·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology·L PasquiniN M Fisk
Sep 10, 2003·The Journal of Maternal-fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians·H RoquéC J Lockwood
May 11, 2004·Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·B WeiszS Lipitz

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Birth Defects

Birth defects encompass structural and functional alterations that occur during embryonic or fetal development and are present since birth. The cause may be genetic, environmental or unknown and can result in physical and/or mental impairment. Here is the latest research on birth defects.

Related Papers

International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics : the Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
M M AnceschiE V Cosmi
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
A YukselO Suoglu
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
C P ChenW Wang
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved