Objective: To find connection between the type of congenital heart malformations and twin pregnancies. Method: Retrospective analysis of data of fetal cardiology database between 1 January 1996 and 30 November 2003. Results: In single pregnancies 455 and in twin pregnancies 31 severe congenital heart malformations were diagnosed prenatally. In monozygotic twin pregnancies 36% of heart malformations were pulmonary stenosis and 45% endocardial fibroelastosis, which is significantly higher than in single pregnancies. In dizygotic twin pregnancies Ebstein malformation was significantly more frequent than in single pregnancies. With the exception of Ebstein malformation in dichorionic and dizygotic twin pregnancies the cardiac malformations were similar to the ones in single pregnancies. Conclusions: The twin pregnancy alone can be considered as indication for fetal echocardiography. The type of congenital heart malformations detected in monochorial twin pregnancies was different from those found in single, dizygotic or dichorionic twin pregnancies. Chorionicity seems to be more important than zygosity.

Keywords:
Twin pregnancy, Congenital heart malformation, Zygosity, Chorionicity
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
2006
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.