Twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a disease of the placenta
(or afterbirth) that affects identical twin pregnancies.
TTTS affects identical twins (or higher multiple gestations), who share
a common monochorionic placenta.
The shared placenta contains abnormal blood vessels, which connect the
umbilical cords and circulations of the twins.
The common placenta may also be shared unequally by the twins, and one
twin may have a share too small to provide the necessary nutrients to grow normally or even survive.
The events in pregnancy that lead to TTTS - the timing of the twinning
event, the number and type of connecting vessels, and the way the placenta is shared by the twins are all random events
that have no primary prevention (see section on The Monochorionic Placenta), is not hereditary or genetic, nor is it caused
by anything the parents did or did not do. TTTS can happen to anyone.
The placenta is the only biologic structure that can cause the death or injury of more than one person at the same time. |
Depending on the number, type and direction of the connecting vessels,
blood can be transfused disproportionately from one twin (the donor) to the other twin (the recipient).
The transfusion causes the donor twin to have decreased blood volume. This
in turn leads to slower than normal growth than its co-twin, and poor urinary output causing little to no amniotic fluid
or oligohydramnios (the source of most of the amniotic fluid is urine from the baby).
The recipient twin becomes overloaded with blood. This excess blood puts
a strain on this baby’s heart to the point that it may develop heart failure, and also causes this baby to have too
much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios) from a greater than normal production of urine.
TTTS can occur at any time during pregnancy, even while a mother is
in labor at term. The placental abnormalities determine when and to what degree a transfusion occurs between the twins.
Chronic TTTS describes those cases that appear early in pregnancy
(12-26 weeks’ gestation). These cases are the most serious because the babies are immature and cannot be delivered. In
addition, the twins will have a longer time during their development in the womb to be affected by the TTTS abnormalities. Without
treatment, most of these babies would not survive and of the survivors, most would have handicaps or birth defects.
Acute TTTS describes those cases that occur suddenly, whenever
there is a major difference in the blood pressures between the twins. This may occur in labor at term, or during the
last third of pregnancy whenever one twin becomes gravely ill or even passes away as a result of the abnormalities in
their shared placenta. Acute TTTS twins may have a better chance to survive based on their gestational age, but may
have a greater chance of surviving with handicaps.
"We believe wholeheartedly that without the awareness and education given to us by The Twin to Twin Transfusion
Syndrome Foundation, our 7 month old healthy twin boys would not be here today. At a point in our lives when we had no one to turn
to for help, The TTTS Foundation rose to the challenge! It was because of their quick response to our plea for help, that we now know the
joy of watching our twin boys grow up right in front of our eyes."
Linda and Rocco, Ohio