Study of birth anomalies in twin pregnancies

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Original Article

Author Details : Kasturi Kshitija, Ruchi Nagpal*, Seethamsetty Saritha, Sheshagiri Bhaskar

Volume : 7, Issue : 1, Year : 2020

Article Page : 164-170

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijpo.2020.031

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Abstract

Introduction: Twin pregnancies with congenital malformations in foetuses is associated with higher
morbidity and mortality both for the mother as well as the child Its incidence is 4 times more common
than single births. This study highlights rare anomalies and complications in twins
Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study which includes women with twin pregnancies
diagnosed in first trimester by sonography. The cases were collected from a maternity hospital over a
period of one year. Details of gestational age, gender, zygosity, chorionicity, anomalies and complications
of the twins were taken into account along with age and parity of the mother.
Results: Out of 2023 pregnancies 41 were twin pregnancies in which 23 were dizygotic twins and 18
were monozygotic twins based on Weinberg formula. Congenital anomalies and fetal complications were
observed in 4 cases (17.39%) of dizygotic twins and 8 cases (44.44%) of monozygotic twins. The affected
twins predominantly belonged to female sex. Monozygotic twins showed TRAP Sequence with Acephaly
and Twin to twin transfusion syndrome in 2 and 3 pairs respectively. Pregnant women with twins were
between 25 to 40 years of age group.
Conclusion: Twining rate was 20.26/1000 deliveries. Central nervous system anomalies were seen in
women with no folic acid intake preconceptionly. Complications and anomalies were among monozygotic
twins. Therefore chorionicity of the placenta should be detected in first trimester of pregnancy in order to
prevent fetal deaths by undertaking appropriate medical measures.

Keywords: Monozygotic (MZ), Dizygotic (DZ), Twin to twin transfusion syndrome, (TTTS), Twin reversed arterial perfusion, Sequence (TRAP sequence), Congenital anomalies (CAs).

How to cite : Kshitija K, Nagpal R , Saritha S, Bhaskar S , Study of birth anomalies in twin pregnancies. Indian J Pathol Oncol 2020;7(1):164-170

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