Is TTTS genetic?

The common placenta may also be shared unequally by the twins. The events in pregnancy that lead to TTTS are all random. TTTS is not hereditary or genetic, nor caused by anything the parents did or did not do.

When is TTTS most likely to happen?

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome typically develops between weeks 16 and 26 of a woman's pregnancy. But an ultrasound as early as 10 to 14 weeks can put doctors on alert that there is a twin gestation, and if they are sharing a placenta. TTTS is diagnosed by measuring levels of amniotic fluid.

How do you avoid twin to twin transfusions?

The exact cause of TTTS is not well understood; there are no known genetic causes of TTTS, and there's nothing a mother did to cause it. In the majority of cases, TTTS develops in the second trimester of pregnancy. While there's nothing anyone can do to prevent TTTS, there's plenty we can do to help your babies.

How common is twin twin transfusion syndrome?

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome affects approximately 5 to 15 percent of identical twin pregnancies, meaning that approximately 6,000 babies may be affected each year.

Can non identical twins have TTTS?

Although all identical twins share a placenta, TTTS develops in about 10 to 15 percent of those pregnancies. The condition does not occur when the twins are non-identical (fraternal).

What is twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS)?

What causes twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome?

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare pregnancy condition affecting identical twins or other multiples. TTTS occurs in pregnancies where twins share one placenta (afterbirth) and a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients essential for development in the womb.

What is the survival rate of TTTS?

Survival rates of 60–80% are now commonly reported. 3-6 The other major treatment modality for TTTS is laser ablation of the placental anastomosing vessels, with survival rates of 50–70% having been reported.

Does TTTS affect the mother?

Some research suggests that mothers with pregnancies complicated by TTTS may have lower protein levels in their blood than other pregnant women. It may be recommended that mothers with TTTS pregnancies consider additional protein through nutrition supplements such as protein shakes.

Does bed rest help TTTS?

Not all moms with TTTS are prescribed bed rest, but for those that are, bed rest means reducing their activity levels.

How does the death of a twin affect the other twin?

Twins literally do not know how to exist as one. When a twin dies, the twinless twin longs to reconnect. The twinless twin may have phantom pain or feel half dead. He or she may feel a need to represent both him or herself and the deceased twin or may even take on behaviors of the deceased twin.

Which parent carries twin gene?

The gene versions that increase the chance of hyperovulation can be passed down from parent to child. This is why fraternal twins run in families. However, only women ovulate. So, the mother's genes control this and the fathers don't.

Can TTTS stay at Stage 1?

Among 132 consecutive cases of TTTS, 46 women presented with Stage I disease. In the majority (69.6%), disease remained stable (28.3%) or regressed (41.3%).

How early can TTTS be treated?

There are a few options to treat TTTS before birth, but only the most severe cases should be treated with fetal intervention. Observation, with or without bed rest. If TTTS occurs in the third trimester, conservative measures and early delivery are usually recommended.

Are all twin pregnancies considered high risk?

Being pregnant with multiples doesn't necessarily mean that your pregnancy will be problematic. However, women carrying multiples do have a higher chance of developing complications such as high blood pressure and preterm labor. For this reason, all multiple pregnancies are considered high-risk.

Can you get TTTS after 26 weeks?

Conclusion: In TTTS diagnosed after 26 weeks of gestation, amniodrainage and laser surgery both result in 100% survival. However, infants born after laser surgery have less major neonatal morbidity.

Can TTTS regress?

Most cases of TTTS present in the early second trimester and are staged according to the system shown in the table (table 1), formerly called the Quintero classification system. The stage may remain stable, regress, or progress over time, and progression can occur rapidly.

Can TTTS cause cerebral palsy?

Twins with TTTS are often born prematurely after an extremely distressing and highly hazardous fetal period. Follow-up studies report varying rates of cerebral palsy (CP) and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).

What is Stage 3 twin to twin transfusion syndrome?

Stage 3: The imbalance of blood flow starts to affect the heart function in one or both babies. This is seen in abnormal blood flow in the umbilical cords or hearts of the twins.

Are twins more likely to have disabilities?

A number of studies have shown that, even among children of similar birth weight and gestational age, twins are more likely to suffer from the disorder.

What is a daisy baby?

All babies affected by TTTS, including TAPS, SIUGR and TRAP are called Daisy Babies.

What causes one twin to be bigger than the other?

Depending on where they implant, one twin may get a smaller share of the placenta than the other, resulting in less blood flow and nutrition to one fetus, and more to the other. This is called unequal placental sharing. As a result, the twins may grow differently.

What are the stages of TTS?

Can one twin develop slower than the other?

Multiples do tend to be born smaller than single babies. But it's not because their growth rate is necessarily slower — in fact, for twins, it's about the same as any other baby's until about weeks 30 to 32, when they do slow down a tad, since they're competing more for nutrients.

Can a father pass a twin gene to daughter?

While men can carry the gene and pass it on to their daughters, a family history of twins doesn't make them any more likely to have twins themselves. 3 But, if a father passes on the "twin gene" to his daughter, then she may have a higher chance than normal of having fraternal twins.

Which type of twins are hereditary?

Dizygotic (DZ) twins, also called fraternal twins, occur when two egg cells are each fertilized by a different sperm cell in the same menstrual cycle. DZ twins are about twice as common as MZ twins, and they are much more likely to run in families.