Monochorionic twins share a single placenta with intertwin vascular anastomoses, allowing the transfer of blood from one fetus to the other and vice versa. These anastomoses are the essential anatomical substrate for the development of several complications, including twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS). TTTS and TAPS are both chronic forms of feto...

The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey (EFPTS) is a prospective, population-based registry of multiple births in the province of East-Flanders, Belgium. EFPTS has several unique features: it is population-based and prospective, with the possibility of long-term follow-up; the twins (and higher order multiple births) are recruited at birth; basic perinatal data recorded; chorion type and zygo...

INTRODUCTION The appropriate effectiveness of inter-twin amniotic fluid discordance (AFD) in the early second trimester for the prediction of severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS The largest AFD between 16 and 18 weeks' gestation was analyzed in correlation with TTTS development defined by polyhydramnios with a maximum vertical pocket (MVP) ≥8 cm c...

The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey (EFPTS) is a registry of multiple births in the province of East-Flanders, Belgium. It has several unique features: it is population-based and prospective, with the possibility of long-term follow-up; the twins (and higher order multiple births) are ascertained at birth; basic perinatal data are recorded; chorion type and zygosity are established; and s...

This study investigates the validity of retrospective determination of chorion type by asking the question to the mother about the number of placentas. In the "East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey" (EFPTS), accurate information on the placentation and zygosity of the multiples was collected prospectively. The mothers of 231 monozygotic (95 dichorionic and 136 monochorionic) twins and 255 dizyg...

About 30% of monochorionic twin pregnancies are complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), isolated discordant growth, twin anemia-polycythemia sequence, congenital defects or intrauterine demise. About 15% will be eligible for invasive fetal therapy, either fetoscopic laser treatment for TTTS or fetoscopic or ultrasound-guided umbilical cord coagulation for a severe congenital de...

We present a series of monozygous multiple gestations achieved following in vitro fertilization (IVF): one case of monochorionic triplet pregnancy and six cases of dizygotic triplet pregnancy. From September 2000 to December 2006, all patients achieving clinical pregnancy by ART were reviewed (n = 2433). A 37 year-old woman who delivered a healthy singleton after IVF returned two years later fo...

We report the case of a monochorionic twin gestation discordant for mutation in chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7) gene and cerebral abnormalities consequent to an early devastating cerebrovascular event. The parents elected selective termination given poor prognosis this fetus, but socio-economic considerations wished defer procedure as late possible, despite awareness risks li...

Acardia twin is a rare, unique complication of monochorionic pregnancy. A 2.6% incidence among twins has been cited. In such complications with abnormal or non-functional heart perfused by its co-twin via placental arterial anastomosis. The acardia poorly developed and upper torso. We present case in which the fetal demise one fetus pregnancy diagnosed first trimester, but patient wishes to con...