Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Twin Transfusion Syndrome: Understanding and Implications

Twin Transfusion Syndrome, also known as syndromum transfusionale geminorum, is a rare complication that can occur during pregnancies with twins or more. This syndrome is associated with uneven distribution of blood flow between twins, which can lead to serious consequences for the health and survival of the fetuses.

The main cause of Twin Transfusion Syndrome is the presence of abnormal arteriovenous connections between the placentas of twins. Normally, each fetus has its own placenta, but twins sharing the same placenta (monoamniotic and/or monochorionic pregnancy) may experience these connections. Blood can flow from one fetus to another, causing a redistribution of nutrients and oxygen.

One of the most well-known and serious variants of Gemini Transfusion Syndrome is double hemodynamic compromise syndrome. In this case, one fetus, called the “donor,” donates its blood to another fetus, called the “recipient.” The donor fetus becomes hypovolemic and may develop nutritional deficiencies, and the recipient fetus suffers from fluid overload and resulting heart failure.

Twin Transfusion Syndrome can have serious consequences for both fetuses. The donor fetus is characterized by low birth weight, intrauterine malnutrition, anemia and the possibility of developing heart failure. The recipient fetus, on the other hand, may have excess birth weight, polyuria, polydramnios, and a risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

Diagnosis of Twin Transfusion Syndrome is based on ultrasound, which can detect uneven fetal growth, abnormal amounts of surrounding water, placental asymmetry, and other signs of uneven distribution of blood flow between twins. Confirmation of the diagnosis may require amniocentesis to analyze placental DNA.

Treatment for Twin Transfusion Syndrome depends on the severity and timing of pregnancy. In some cases, amnioreduction, a procedure in which excess surrounding water is removed from the uterine cavity, may be necessary. More serious cases may require surgery, such as laser coagulation of the arteries connecting the twins' placentas.

The prognosis for fetuses suffering from Twin Transfusion Syndrome can be variable and depends on many factors, including the severity of the syndrome, the age of pregnancy and the availability of medical care. In case of timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, there is a chance for a favorable outcome for both fetuses.

In conclusion, Twin Transfusion Syndrome is a serious complication that can occur in pregnant women with twins or more. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment play an important role in improving the prognosis for fetuses. It is important to seek medical help if you suspect this syndrome to ensure a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Please note that this article is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a learned physician.

Twin syndrome or transfusion syndrome, a rare disease in which several genes coincide in embryos. One gene determines the shape and size of the face, another is responsible for eye color, and the third is responsible for hair. By the time of birth, so-called homologous recombination occurs, which can lead to the fact that in any of the cases the gene match will be the same. That is, one child will be a blue-eyed brown-haired man, the other a brown-eyed brunette.

Until 2014, only the American expert Michael Dickinson could make such a diagnosis officially. The fact is that it is necessary not only to accurately identify all mutations, but also to accurately assess the degree of deviation in the development of each of the twins. There are only ten such specialists in the world, including British geneticist Professor Gillian Peters. After birth, both babies taste their mother's milk first. If it is not suitable for human nutrition, then milk is produced by a gland located behind the stomach and is stimulated by the baby’s brain, and this formation develops precisely during feeding. When babies feed on different milks over the course of these hundred days, then the active formation of this gland begins. But the body cannot contain two such formations. Therefore, the brain of one of the babies gradually begins to block the development of the gland of the second baby. And he remains with the form of the gland that developed in the process of milk production. This means Gemini syndrome - Transfusion syndrome. At first, Michael Dickinson was very happy with his new charges, because these are such rare cases. He was already thinking about how he would write his book and sell tickets to conferences on genetic abnormalities. But everything changed when he read the findings of American researchers. The probability of developing the syndrome in twins of opposite sexes was only 0.009%. But during transfests, the probability of this syndrome increased to 7%. This is where Michael began to think a lot. It was very strange to search