Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: a model for the fetal origins of adult health

Summary Twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a complication of monochorionic, diamniotic twins that results from unbalanced blood flow from one to the other in utero. The increased rate of functional heart disease among the recipient twins in these pregnancies is a model for the theory of fet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology 2005-01, Vol.19 (s1), p.32-36
Main Author: Chescheir, Nancy C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Blood Pressure - physiology
Cell Differentiation - physiology
Coronary Vessels - embryology
Female
Fetal Blood - physiology
Fetal Development - physiology
Fetofetal Transfusion - physiopathology
Heart - embryology
Heart Diseases - etiology
Heart Diseases - physiopathology
Hormones - physiology
Humans
Models, Biological
Myocardium - pathology
Pregnancy
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Summary:Summary Twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a complication of monochorionic, diamniotic twins that results from unbalanced blood flow from one to the other in utero. The increased rate of functional heart disease among the recipient twins in these pregnancies is a model for the theory of fetal origins of adult health. Potential mechanisms for heart disease include alterations in the hormonal environment within the fetal bodies, blood pressure‐driven alterations in blood flow and blood vessel distensibility, abnormal differentiation of fetal myocardial cells and changes in coronary artery growth. Although there are no large studies showing adult consequences of this fetal physiological disturbance, paediatric problems certainly exist and predict an increased risk of adult disease.
ISSN:0269-5022
1365-3016
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-3016.2005.00612.x