Cyclic changes in the umbilical arterial flow in mono-chorionic, di-amniotic twin pregnancy

• Published in: European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology Vol. 101; no. 2; pp. 135 - 138
• Main Authors: Nakai, Yuichiro, Ishiko, Osamu, Nishio, Junko, Suzuki, Shin-ichiro, Mine, Makiko, Imanaka, Motoharu, Ogita, Sachio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 10.03.2002; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arterio-arterial anastomosis; Arteriovenous Anastomosis; Arteriovenous Anastomosis - diagnostic imaging; Biological and medical sciences; Chorion; Chorion - blood supply; Cyclic flow pattern; Doppler flow pattern; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Management. Prenatal diagnosis; Medical sciences; Mono-chorionic, di-amniotic twin; Placental Circulation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Regional Blood Flow; Twins, Dizygotic; Twins, Monozygotic; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; Umbilical Arteries; Umbilical Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Umbilical Arteries - physiology; Umbilical artery; Doppler flow pattern; Umbilical artery; Mono-chorionic, di-amniotic twin; Cyclic flow pattern; Arterio-arterial anastomosis; Sonography; Doppler ultrasound study; Human; Prenatal; Evolution; Fetus; Diagnosis; Twin pregnancy; Blood flow
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-2115(01)00530-9

Objective: To determine the effect of arterio-arterial anastomosis on the umbilical arterial flow in mono-chorionic, di-amniotic twin pregnancy. Subjects: Thirty-three women with mono-chorionic, di-amniotic twin pregnancy. Methods: Pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic examination was performed every 4 weeks to obtain umbilical arterial flow velocity waveforms in both two fetuses. Results: In five of the women, cyclic flow changes in the umbilical arterial flow were detected in the smaller fetus. All of these twins had arterio-arterial anastomosis on the surface of the placenta. Conclusion: The fetuses in mono-chorionic and di-amniotic twin gestation who showed cyclic changes in umbilical arterial flow had arterio-arterial anastomosis. But, this characteristic flow was not observed every time.