TY - JOUR
T1 - Expectant management of twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly
AU - Lipitz, Shlomo
AU - Meizner, Israel
AU - Yagel, Simcha
AU - Shapiro, Israel
AU - Achiron, Reuwen
AU - Schiff, Eyal
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - To study the clinical course and perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly, without selective termination. We conducted a descriptive retrospective study of 14 cases of dichorionic twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly, which were managed expectantly in five Israeli perinatal centers. None of the patients miscarried. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.9 ± 2.8 weeks (range 29–39). Only three patients (21%) delivered before 35 weeks' gestation. Polyhydramnios occurred in six of the anencephalic amniotic sacs. Nevertheless, most occurrences were mild and none necessitated therapeutic amniocentesis. The mean birth weight of the normal fetus was 2610 ± 690 g (range 1100-3200). One apparently normal twin had a cardiac anomaly and died shortly after birth, and one was electively delivered at 33 weeks because of severe intrauterine growth retardation and subsequently developed cerebral palsy. The rest had normal short- and long-term outcomes. Expectant management of a twin gestation discordant for anencephaly diagnosed at the second trimester is associated with a favorable outcome for the unaffected fetus.
AB - To study the clinical course and perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly, without selective termination. We conducted a descriptive retrospective study of 14 cases of dichorionic twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly, which were managed expectantly in five Israeli perinatal centers. None of the patients miscarried. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.9 ± 2.8 weeks (range 29–39). Only three patients (21%) delivered before 35 weeks' gestation. Polyhydramnios occurred in six of the anencephalic amniotic sacs. Nevertheless, most occurrences were mild and none necessitated therapeutic amniocentesis. The mean birth weight of the normal fetus was 2610 ± 690 g (range 1100-3200). One apparently normal twin had a cardiac anomaly and died shortly after birth, and one was electively delivered at 33 weeks because of severe intrauterine growth retardation and subsequently developed cerebral palsy. The rest had normal short- and long-term outcomes. Expectant management of a twin gestation discordant for anencephaly diagnosed at the second trimester is associated with a favorable outcome for the unaffected fetus.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029431143&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0029-7844(95)00309-F
DO - 10.1016/0029-7844(95)00309-F
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AN - SCOPUS:0029431143
SN - 0029-7844
VL - 86
SP - 969
EP - 972
JO - Obstetrics and Gynecology
JF - Obstetrics and Gynecology
IS - 6
ER -