Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
Accurate and Simple Evaluation of Vascular Anastomoses in Monochorionic Placenta using Colored Dye
Published on: September 5, 2011
Placental characteristics in growth-discordant monochorionic twins: a matched case-control study
E Lopriore1, S A Pasman, F J Klumper
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands. e.lopriore@lumc.nl
Objective:
To compare the placental characteristics in monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies with and without birth weight discordance (BWD).
Methods:
We performed a matched case-control study to compare the placental characteristics of MC placentas from pregnancies with BWD (≥25%) (n = 47) with a control group of MC placentas without BWD (n = 47), matched for gestational age at birth. Placental sharing, angioarchitecture and diameter of the arterio-arterial (AA) anastomosis were assessed by placental injection with colored dye.
Results:
The rate of velamentous cord insertion in MC placentas with and without BWD was 30% (28/94) and 16% (15/94), respectively (p = 0.036). Placental sharing discordance in MC placentas with and without BWD was 36% and 17%, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean diameter of the AA anastomosis in MC placentas with and without BWD was 2.2 mm and 1.8 mm, respectively (p = 0.024).
Conclusion:
MC placentas from growth-discordant twins are more unequally shared, have a higher rate of velamentous cord insertions and larger diameter of AA anastomosis compared to gestational age matched controls.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
01:22Case Studies