Nutritional Supplementation in Monochorionic Diamniotic Twin Pregnancies: Impact on Twin–Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Giuseppe Chiossi; Matthew R. Quigley; Emmanuel J. Esaka; Kristin Novic; Jennifer U. Celebrezze; Steven H. Golde; Ronald L. Thomas

doi:10.1055/s-0028-1091400

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 2008; 25(10): 667-672
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1091400

Nutritional Supplementation in Monochorionic Diamniotic Twin Pregnancies: Impact on Twin–Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Giuseppe Chiossi¹ , Matthew R. Quigley³ , Emmanuel J. Esaka¹ , Kristin Novic¹ , Jennifer U. Celebrezze² , Steven H. Golde² , Ronald L. Thomas²

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
²Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
³Allegheny Singer Research Institute, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) has been related to unbalanced unidirectional arteriovenous anastomoses in the placenta of monochorionic diamniotic (DiMo) twin gestations. As maternal malnutrition accounting for hypoproteinemia and anemia has been detected in severe cases of TTTS, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of early diet supplementation on TTTS. Fifty-one DiMo twin pregnancies were given commercially available oral nutritional diet supplements and then compared in a retrospective cohort study to 52 twin gestations with the same chorionicity but not subjected to nutritional supplementation. Diet supplementation was associated with lower overall incidence of TTTS (20/52 versus 8/51, p = 0.02) and with lower prevalence of TTTS at delivery (18/52 versus 6/51, p = 0.012) when compared with no supplementation. Nutritional intervention also significantly prolonged the time between the diagnosis of TTTS and delivery (9.4 ± 3.7 weeks versus 4.6 ± 6.5 weeks; p = 0.014). The earlier nutritional regimen was introduced, the lesser chance of detecting TTTS (p = 0.001). Although not statistically significant, dietary intervention was also associated with lower Quintero stage, fewer invasive treatments, and lower twin birth weight discordance. Diet supplementation appears to counter maternal metabolic abnormalities in DiMo twin pregnancies and improve perinatal outcomes in TTTS when combined with the standard therapeutic options.

KEYWORDS

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome - nutritional supplementation - pregnancy outcome - diamniotic monochorionic twins

Full Text

References

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Giuseppe ChiossiM.D.

Allegheny General Hospital

7th Floor South Tower, 320 East North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Email: ossidi74seppie@yahoo.it