Paper

A Case of Monochorionic Twin Pregnancy Complicated with Intrauterine Single Fetal Death with Successful Treatment of Intrauterine Blood Transfusion in the Surviving Fetus
Masahiko Nakata^a, Masahiro Sumie^a, Susumu Murata^b, Ichiro Miwa^b, Emiko Kusaka^b, Norihiro Sugino<sup>b

a</sup>Perinatal Care Center, Yamaguchi University Hospital, and
^bDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Fetal Diagn Ther 2007;22:7-9 (DOI: 10.1159/000095834)

  Key Words

• Monochorionic twin pregnancy
• Intrauterine single fetal death
• Intrauterine blood transfusion

  Abstract

We report a case of monochorionic twin pregnancy complicated with single fetal demise that received successful treatment of intrauterine transfusion for severe anemia of the surviving fetus. A single fetal demise occurred at 20 weeks of gestation and middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV), a marker for fetal anemia, showed marked elevation in the surviving fetus. Fetal blood sampling was immediately done and severe fetal anemia (hemoglobin = 5.5 g/dl, hematocrit = 16.8%) was confirmed, and then intrauterine transfusion was performed. After transfusion, MCA-PSV rapidly decreased to the normal value and remained within normal range until delivery. A healthy 2,640 g male infant was delivered at 35 weeks of gestation without anemic status and no neurological problem was found at 1-year old. The present report supports that intrauterine rescue transfusion is a useful treatment to prevent the adverse outcome of surviving fetus in monochorionic twin pregnancy complicated with single fetal demise, and monitoring of MCA-PSV is also useful to assess anemic status of the surviving fetus.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Masahiko Nakata, MD, PhD
Perinatal Care Center, Yamaguchi University Hospital
1-1-1 Minamikogushi
Ube 755-8505 (Japan)
Tel. +81 836 22 2288, Fax +81 836 22 2287, E-Mail miyabi@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp

  Article Information

Received: June 10, 2005
Accepted after revision: January 21, 2006
Published online: September 21, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 15