[Twin-twin transfusion syndrome and cardiovascular complications]

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome carries high morbidity and mortality, related in part to the cardiovascular alterations that it produces.

Patient 1 underwent a cesarian section at week 28 due to myocardial dysfunction and severe tricuspid regurgitation in the recipient twin. Twelve hours after birth the recipient twin developed refractory shock. Severe biventricular hypertrophy was observed and the twin died 60 hours after birth from multisystemic failure. Patient 2 underwent a cesarian section at week 29 due to cardiomegaly and cardiac insufficiency in the recipient twin. At birth, he showed hypertension and poor peripheral perfusion. Biventricular hypertrophy was observed, which increased until it produced a mild right midventricular stenosis at 72 hours, decreasing after the 8th day. Mild hypertrophy persisted at 6 months of life.

Cardiovascular alterations appear only in recipient fetuses affected by twin-twin transfusion syndrome. The most frequent findings are cardiac dilation, hypertrophy, myocardial dysfunction, tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary stenosis. These alterations usually disappear during the first few months of life, but may also worsen.