Effect of the mode of assisted reproductive technology conception on obstetric outcomes for survivors of the vanishing twin syndrome

Does a Vanishing Twin Affect Perinatal Outcome?

“…The frequency of diagnosis of VT has increased as twin pregnancies have risen in number following the use of ART and as the diagnostic tool, namely the transvaginal ultrasound, has been improved. The prevalence of VT has been reported at 4%-30% after ART, and the impact on obstetric and neonatal outcome has been discussed [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Almog et al [1] compared 57 VT deliveries with 171 matched singleton deliveries after ART and observed lower birth weight, an increased rate of low birth weight <2500 g and an increased rate of delivery at <28 weeks of gestation in the VT group.…”

“…Almog et al [1] compared 57 VT deliveries with 171 matched singleton deliveries after ART and observed lower birth weight, an increased rate of low birth weight <2500 g and an increased rate of delivery at <28 weeks of gestation in the VT group. Shebl et al [2] compared 46 VT deliveries with 92 matched singletons after ART and showed that VT was associated with small size for gestational age and an increased rate of low birth weight <2500 g. The reasons for these poor VT outcomes are considered to be the direct impact of embryonic loss on the surviving twin, infection and the disturbed placental circulation of blood shunting through inter-twin vascular anastomoses, particularly in monochromatic twins [1,2,6].…”

“…La-Sala et al [6] compared 84 VT births with 602 singleton births after IVF/ICSI and showed that the two groups had similar mean gestational age and birth weights as well as similar frequencies of preterm and extremely preterm (≤ 32 weeks gestation) birth, low birth weight, and very low birth weight. Mansour et al [7] reviewed 206 VT and 1891 singleton pregnancies after ICSI and observed that there was no statistically significant difference in the mean gestational age at delivery.…”

“…Some studies state that VT is associated with lower birth weight and a high-rate of preterm deliveries [1][2][3][4][5] and that significant similarity are present between the obstetric outcome of VT and twin pregnancies. However, other studies have shown that there is no difference between the obstetric outcome of VT and singletons [6,7]. Despite the high incidence of VT, there has been little research on this topic.…”

“…The prevalence of this syndrome is reported in 4%-30% of all singleton deliveries after the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The impact of VT on obstetric outcome till date has been unknown.…”