Objectives: To evaluate the prognosis of monochorionic twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR), classified according to the type of umbilical artery Doppler, under expectant management.
Methods: The outcome of 81 cases with isolated sIUGR was evaluated according to a classification based on umbilical artery (UA) Doppler diastolic flow in the IUGR twin (I: present, II: constantly absent/reverse, III: intermittently absent/reverse). Selective feticide was not considered due to legal constraints. Perinatal outcomes included perinatal death and neurological outcome at 6 months of age.
Results: From 81 cases with the diagnosis of sIUGR, twin-twin transfusion was diagnosed in 18 cases. This left 63 cases, of which 23 were classified as type I (36.5%), 27 as type II (42.9%) and 13 as type III (20.6%). Intrauterine death occurred in 4.3% (1), 29.6% (8) and 15.4% (2) among IUGR twins, and 4.3% (1), 22.2% (6) and 0.0% (0) among larger twins. Neonatal death occurred in 0.0% (0), 18.5% (5) and 0.0% (0) among IUGR twins, and 0.0% (0), 11.1% (3) and 23.0% (3) among larger twins. Neurological abnormalities at 6 months were found in 4.3% (1), 14.8% (4) and 23.1% (3) in smaller twins and 0.0% (0), 11.1% (3) and 38.5% (5) in larger twins, respectively. Intact survival at 6 months was recorded in 91% (21), 37% (10) and 61% (8) in smaller twins and 95% (22), 55% (15) and 38% (5) in larger twins, respectively.
Conclusion: The outcome in monochorionic twins with sIUGR and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler is poor under expectant management. Normal Doppler seems to be associated with a good prognosis.