Twin pregnancies with complications: impact on neurodevelopment study via registry follow up

Twin pregnancies which share a placenta (monochorionic) are at particular risk of developing complications. These pregnancies can experience twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), twin anaemia polycythaemia sequence (TAPS), twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence (TRAPS), selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR or sFGR), and in rare cases, the death of a baby (selective intrauterine death or sIUD).

Because of the shared placenta, a condition which affects one baby usually affects the other as well. The chance of babies surviving when one of these complications occurs is increasing because new technologies are providing new treatments. However, as more babies survive after these complicated pregnancies, important clinical questions have arisen about the long-term neurological and developmental impact on the affected babies.

The Twins-RF study looked at how babies were developing one year from birth in monochorionic twin pregnancies with no complications, and those affected by TTTS, TAPS, TRAPS, selective growth restriction and selective intrauterine death.

You can read the results of the study in Volume 63, Issue 2 of Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

If you have any concerns about your children’s development, please speak to your health professional.

This research was funded by Twins Trust and match funded by BMFMS. It was carried out by St George's Hospital, London.