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Previous Volume 351:182-184 July 8, 2004 Number 2 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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The twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome poses a major challenge for fetal therapy. Untreated, it results in inordinate perinatal mortality and morbidity. It affects two babies, both of whom are structurally normal. Because the connections mediating intertwin transfusion lie on the placental surface, they should be amenable to therapeutic interruption.

Although all monochorionic twins have vascular anastomoses and thus intertwin transfusion, the clinical syndrome develops in only 15 percent. This results in midtrimester discordance in amniotic-fluid levels and growth between the twins, with signs of hypovolemia and uteroplacental insufficiency in the donor and hypervolemia and cardiac dysfunction in the recipient (Figure . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Source Information

From the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, and the Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Hammersmith Campus — both in London.

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• Weinberg, C. R. (2005). Invited Commentary: Barker Meets Simpson. Am J Epidemiol 161: 33-35 [Full Text]