[Prenatal diagnosis and therapy of feto-fetal transfusion syndrome]. / Pränatale Diagnostik und Therapie des feto-fetalen Transfusionssyndroms.

ABSTRACT

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a serious complication of monochorionic twin pregnancies. It is the result of an unbalanced transfusion of blood across placental vascular anastomoses. TTTS appears predominantly in the second trimester of pregnancy characterized by discordance of growth as well as polyhydramnios in the recipient and oligo-/anhydramnios in the donor. Prenatal diagnosis is possible by non-invasive and invasive methods. The prognosis of the untreated TTTS is very poor. Serial amniocenteses and laser therapy are used resulting in survival rates of about 60%. Intrauterine death of one twin is associated with a high risk of morbidity in the surviving twin. Monochroionic twins have to be identified in early pregnancy. Close surveillance is necessary to diagnose TTTS at an early stage of the disease.