Placental characteristics of selective birth weight discordance in diamniotic-monochorionic twin gestations

Up to 21% of diamniotic-monochorionic twin pregnancies are complicated by severe birth weight discordance in the absence of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a serious condition termed 'selective' birth weight discordance. While its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, the development of selective intertwin growth discordance, related to fetal growth restriction of one twin, is generally attributed to aberrant placental characteristics. The aim of this study was to characterize the placental markers of selective birth weight discordance, with special emphasis on the choriovascular architecture. A prospective cohort of 319 consecutive diamniotic/monochorionic twin placentas was examined at Women and Infants Hospital between 2001 and 2009. After exclusion of placentas from pregnancies complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), monoamniotic, multiple and disrupted placentas, 216 placentas (36 birth weight (BW)-discordant and 180 BW-concordant) formed the subject of this study. Following dye injection, the anatomic characteristics and choriovascular anastomotic patterns of BW-discordant and BW-concordant placentas were compared. The BW-discordant placentas showed significantly higher frequencies of velamentous cord insertion (22% versus 8%, P < 0.001) and uneven placental sharing (56% versus 19%, P < 0.0001) compared with BW-concordant placentas. The frequencies of intertwin AA, VV and AV anastomoses, the net number of AV anastomoses, and the net cross-sectional area of AV anastomoses were similar in both groups. There was no correlation between the frequency of velamentous cord insertion and degree of placental sharing or patterns of choriovascular anastomoses in either group. In conclusion, velamentous cord insertion and uneven placental sharing are the two major placental determinants of selective birth weight discordance in diamniotic-monochorionic twins. The role of the intertwin anastomoses, even when unbalanced, is likely negligible. Elucidation of the mechanisms whereby velamentous cord insertion affects fetal growth may lead to more focused and effective therapeutic strategies for twin and singleton pregnancies complicated by dysregulated fetal growth.