Abstract Objective To investigate the short-term prognosis of the co-twin who survives after single intrauterine fetal demise (sIUFD). Methods A total of 52 infants who survived after sIUFD were enrolled as the case group, and 104 twins, matched for gestational age, from a pair of live-born twins without sIUFD were enrolled as the control group. Related clinical data were compared between the two groups. Results Among the 52 infants who survived after sIUFD, 42 (80.8%) were preterm infants, 13 (25.0%) had brain injury, and 3 (5.8%) died in the neonatal period. Compared with the control group, the case group had significantly higher incidence rates of meconium stained amniotic fluid/bloody amniotic fluid/polyhydramnios/hypamnion, torsion of cord/nuchal cord, and placenta previa/placenta abruption, as well as significantly higher incidence rates of birth asphyxia, anemia or polycythemia at birth, and coagulation disorder at birth (P P Conclusions There is an increase in the incidence rate of complications in the co-twin who survives after sIUFD. Prenatal evaluation and long-term follow-up should be performed for the surviving co-twin.
Odibo AO. Single intrauterine fetal death in twin pregnancies is associated with increased risk of preterm birth and abnormal antenatal brain imaging in the surviving co-twin[J]. BJOG, 2019, 126(5):579.
Vale-Fernandes E, Dias J, Gil B, et al. Single fetal death in monochorionic twin pregnancy:co-twin prognosis and neonatal outcome[J]. Acta Med Port, 2017, 30(2):148-151.
Mackie FL, Rigby A, Morris RK, et al. Prognosis of the co-twin following spontaneous single intrauterine fetal death in twin pregnancies:a systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. BJOG, 2019, 126(5):569-578.
[12]
Giwnewer U, Wiznitzer A, Friedler JM, et al. Intrauterine fetal death of one twin of diamnionic twins is associated with adverse perinatal outcome of the co-twin[J]. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 2012, 25(8):1453-1455.
[13]
Takita H, Hasegawa J, Nakamura M, et al. Causes of intrauterine fetal death are changing in recent years[J]. J Perinat Med, 2018, 46(1):97-101.
[14]
Persico N, D'Ambrosi F, Fabietti I, et al. Fetal Doppler changes 1 week after endoscopic equatorial laser for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome:a longitudinal study[J]. Prenat Diagn, 2018, 38(5):344-348.
Mackie FL, Morris RK, Kilby MD. Fetal brain injury in survivors of twin pregnancies complicated by demise of one twin:a review[J]. Twin Res Hum Genet, 2016, 19(3):262-267.
[19]
Hillman SC, Morris RK, Kilby MD. Co-twin prognosis after single fetal death:a systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. Obstetr Gynecol, 2011, 118(4):928-940.
[20]
van Klink JM, van Steenis A, Steggerda SJ, et al. Single fetal demise in monochorionic pregnancies:incidence and patterns of cerebral injury[J]. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 2015, 45(3):294-300.
