Are there differences between monochorionic twin placentas after spontaneous and assisted conception?

INTRODUCTION: No data are available on the placental characteristics of monochorionic twin pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study investigates the differences between placentas from monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously and those conceived after IVF. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of placental data from a consecutive series of MCDA twin pregnancies followed from the first trimester. The following placental characteristics were compared between IVF versus spontaneous MCDA pregnancies: placental sharing and birth weight discordance relative to placental sharing, the placental angioarchitecture (number, type, and size of anastomoses), and the umbilical cord insertion types. RESULTS: Of the 256 MCDA placentas included in this analysis, 32 (12%) were conceived through IVF and 224 (88%) spontaneously. MCDA twin placentas after IVF did not differ significantly from MCDA twin placentas after spontaneous conception regarding placental sharing, birthweight discordance relative to sharing discordance, and angioarchitecture. There was a trend toward more discordant cord insertions (combination eccentric and velamentous) in IVF (25%) than in spontaneously conceived placentas (12%) (P = 0.05). DISCUSSION: No differences could be demonstrated between MCDA placentation after spontaneous conception and IVF. Any differences in pregnancy outcome between spontaneous and IVF conceived MCDA twins may not be related to differences in placental sharing, angioarchitecture and cord insertion type.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Across Races and Ethnicities: A Review.

Pregnancy is often considered to be a "cardiometabolic stress-test" and pregnancy complications including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can be the first indicator of increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. Over the last two decades, more evidence on the association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular disease has become available. However, despite the importance of addressing existing racial and ethnic differences in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, most research on the role of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is conducted in white majority populations. The fragmented knowledge prohibits evidence-based targeted prevention and intervention strategies in multi-ethnic populations and maintains the gap in health outcomes. In this review, we present an overview of the evidence on racial and ethnic differences in the occurrence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, as well as evidence on the association of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease across different non-White populations, aiming to advance equity in medicine.