Intestinal atresia following intraamniotic use of dyes

Since 1990 avoidance of methylene blue as a dye in diagnostic amniocentesis is recommended. This is a result of the observation that a high incidence of jejunoileal atresia appeared in twin pregnancies following intraamniotic injection of methylene blue. We report four further cases of jejunoileal atresia in twins after intraamniotic injection of dyes since 1991. We describe the clinical course, discuss possible teratogenic mechanisms and emphasize again that synthetic dyes should not be used in second trimester amniocentesis.