46,XY monozygotic twins with discordant sex phenotype

Objective: To analyze male and female sex differentiation in monozygotic twins.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Multiple academic centers.

Patient(s): A pair of monozygotic twins.

Intervention(s): Skin and blood samples were obtained for DNA analysis and karyotyping.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Mutation within the SRY gene was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction–single-stranded conformation polymorphism test. Monozygosity was ascertained by short tandem repeat analysis. Karyotypes were studied in blood and skin fibroblasts.

Result(s): SRY was present in both twins, but no mutations were detected in the SRY conserved motif. Monozygosity was confirmed by the use of short tandem repeat analysis in four loci: c-fms, thyroid peroxidase, von Willebrand factor, and tyrosine hydroxylase. The karyotype was 46,XY uniformly in both twins.

Conclusion(s): Monozygotic twins can develop discordant male and female phenotypes despite the presence of a common karyotype and despite the presence of intact testis-determining genes. In the present case, this could be due to mutation or to mosaicism involving occult 45,X cell lines in the dysgenetic gonads.     

Prenatal diagnosis in monozygotic twins with Down syndrome who had different phenotypes

We report the case of monozygotic (MZ) male twin fetuses with different Down syndrome (DS) phenotypes. Prenatal fetal sonography showed a bichorial biamniotic pregnancy with increased nuchal translucency in twin A and a cervical cystic hygroma and heart defect in twin B. Cytogenetic analysis performed after double amniocentesis showed free and homogeneous trisomy 21 in both twins. Monozygosity was confirmed by molecular analysis. The pregnancy was terminated at 17 weeks of gestation (WG). Postmortem analysis confirmed the phenotypic discordance. To our knowledge, this is the first reported prenatal diagnosis of MZ male twins with different Down syndrome phenotypes but identical karyotypes. We discuss the mechanisms involved in phenotypic discordance of monozygotic twins and particularly the role of environmental factors.     

Prenatal diagnosis and management of monozygotic twins discordant for severe fetal abnormalities

ObjectiveWe present prenatal diagnosis and management of monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for severe fetal abnormalities.Case reportA 36-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 18 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age, and hydrops fetalis, a giant cystic hygroma of 5 × 3.5 cm and left hydronephrosis in a co-twin. The other co-twin was structurally normal. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 46,XY in both co-twins. Simultaneous polymorphic DNA marker analysis using the DNAs extracted from maternal blood and uncultured amniocytes confirmed MZ twinning. The woman underwent a successful selective fetal reduction by radiofrequency ablation at 22 weeks of gestation. At 28 weeks of gestation, premature rupture of membranes occurred, and a 1280-g normal male baby and a 275-g dead malformed co-twin were delivered. The normal co-twin was phenotypically normal and was doing well at age seven weeks.ConclusionsPrenatal diagnosis of MZ twins discordant for structural abnormalities should include a differential diagnosis of MZ twinning, and a zygosity test is necessary under such a circumstance.     

Diagnosis of trisomy 18 in monozygotic twins by cordocentesis

The incidence of monozygotic twins with trisomy 18 is 1 in 1,000,000 births. We report a case diagnosed prenatally with lymphocyte culture from fetal blood samples obtained by cordocentesis. Fetal growth lag and structural malformations detected by ultrasonography indicated chromosomal abnormality. A saline solution infusion technique ensured that cordocentesis obtained a sample from each twin.     

Robinow syndrome in monozygotic twins with normal stature.

Robinow syndrome was found in two monozygotic twins. We describe the clinical and radiographic manifestations in these patients, both with normal stature and one with omphalocele, with a follow-up of 13 years. Families with Robinow syndrome of both autosomal dominant and recessive inheritance have been reported. We apply the criteria suggested to assign isolated cases to one of the two forms and conclude that autosomal dominant inheritance is more likely.     

'Identical' twins with discordant karyotypes

A chromosomal abnormality in one of the fetuses of a monozygotic twin pregnancy is a rare phenomenon. In the prenatal unit of our cytogenetics laboratory we have recently come across two such heterokaryotypic twin pregnancies. In both cases ultrasound abnormalities were detected in one fetus of each twin pair. Chromosomal analysis showed that one twin pregnancy was discordant for trisomy 21 and the other for 45,X. Ultrasonographic examination suggested a monochorionic twin pregnancy in each case and DNA studies confirmed that both sets of twins were monozygotic. Both pregnancies were terminated. Biopsies taken from different sites of the placentas showed chromosomal mosaicism in both cases. There was no clear correlation between the karyotype found close to the site of the umbilical cord insertion in the placenta and the karyotype of the fetus. Sampling of amniotic fluid from both sacs is recommended in diamniotic twin pregnancies if one (or both) of the fetuses has ultrasound abnormalities, even if the twins are apparently monochorionic.     

Application of QF-PCR for the prenatal assessment of discordant monozygotic twins for fetal sex

OBJECTIVE: To establish the utility of quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) in order to determine the zygosity of multiple pregnancies, as well as to define the origin of the most frequent aneuploidies in amniotic fluid samples. METHODS: We describe the case of a monochorionic (MC) diamniotic (DA) pregnancy with phenotypically discordant twins (nuchal cystic hygroma and non-immune hydrops in twin A and no anomalies in twin B). QF-PCR was performed for rapid prenatal diagnosis in uncultured amniocytes and subsequently in cultured cells. Polymorphic markers for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18 and 21 were used for determination of zygosity as well as sex chromosome aneuploidy. RESULTS: Twin A showed a Turner Syndrome (TS) mosaicism pattern by QF-PCR in uncultured amniocytes. The monozygotic origin of the pregnancy was determined. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) in this sample showed a mosaicism X0/XY (83/17%). Cytogenetic analysis revealed a 45,X0 karyotype in twin A and a 46,XY karyotype in twin B. CONCLUSIONS: QF-PCR is a reliable tool for the determination of the zygosity independently of the chorionicity and the fetal sex in case of twin pregnancy. Testing both direct and cultured cells can provide useful results for genetic counselling in chromosomal mosaicisms.     

Endometriosis in monozygotic twins

Objective: To describe the occurrence of endometriosis in monozygotic twins.Design: Postal questionnaire plus confirmation of disease status.Setting: Twins were recruited via the American Endometriosis Association and the National Endometriosis Society of Great Britain and via British gynecologists.Result(s): Fourteen twin pairs were concordant for endometriosis, and two were discordant. Nine pairs of twins had moderate-severe endometriosis.Conclusion(s): These findings contribute to the growing body of literature that suggests endometriosis has a genetic basis.     

Placental apoptosis in discordant twins

OBJECTIVE: To investigate placental apoptosis in discordant dichorial twins. METHODS: Placental samples were obtained from 7 third-trimester suitable twins. Discordancy was defined as a >25 per cent difference in newborn birth weight. Light microscopy using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained paraffin slides and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling (TUNEL) methods were used to confirm the incidence of apoptosis. Investigators were blinded to pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: Both methods revealed that the incidence of apoptosis in the placentas of the smaller fetuses was significantly higher than in placentas of the larger fetuses. The incidence of TUNEL-positive cells in the former was 1.4+/-0.26 per cent: this was significantly higher than the incidence of apoptosis in the placental specimens of the latter (0.9+/-0.07 per cent, P< 0.02 Wilcoxon rank test). The same results were obtained with H&E: the incidence of apoptosis detected in placentas from the former was 1.07+/-0.1 per cent compared to 0.72+/-0.08 per cent in those of the latter (P< 0.02 Wilcoxon rank test). CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar environment conditions, placental apoptosis is increased in the smaller fetus and thus might play a role in discordancy between twins. Since increased placental apoptosis has also been found in singleton intrauterine growth restriction, this supports the hypothesis that the smaller twin is selectively growth restricted.     

Prenatal diagnosis of female monozygotic twins discordant for Turner syndrome: implications for prenatal genetic counselling

We describe a set of monozygotic (MZ) female twins, one of whom presented with a typical Turner syndrome (TS) phenotype and the other a normal female phenotype. Prenatal fetal ultrasonographic examination showed a monochorial diamniotic pregnancy with a hygroma colli and growth delay in Twin A and no anomalies in Twin B. Karyotypic analysis performed on fetal blood samples demonstrated a 46,XX/45,X (23/2) mosaicism in Twin A and a normal 46,XX chromosome constitution in Twin B. At birth, Twin A presented with a typical TS and Twin B had a normal female phenotype. Postnatal cytogenetic investigation of blood lymphocytes showed the same 46,XX/45,X mosaicism in both twins: 46,XX/45,X (40/7) in Twin A and 46,XX/45,X (40/5) in Twin B. Further investigations at the age of 10 months showed in Twin A a 46,XX/45,X (98/2) mosaicism in lymphocytes and 100% of 45,X (50 analysed cells) in fibroblasts, and in Twin B a normal 46,XX (100 analysed cells) chromosome constitution in lymphocytes but a mild 46,XX/45,X (78/2) mosaicism in fibroblasts. Monozygosity was confirmed by molecular analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of prenatal diagnosis of MZ female twins discordant for TS. Review of reported sets of MZ female twins (eight cases) or triplets (one case) discordant for TS shows, as in the present case, that the phenotype correlates better with the chromosomal distribution of mosaicism in fibroblasts than in lymphocytes. In the blood of MZ twins chimerism may modify the initial allocation of the mosaicism. These results suggest that, in cases of prenatal diagnosis of MZ female twins discordant for TS, the phenotype of each twin would be better predicted from karyotype analysis of cells from amniotic fluid than from fetal blood.     

Prenatal diagnosis of the fragile-X in male monozygotic twins: discordant expression of the fragile site in amniocytes

A prenatal diagnosis of the fragile-X syndrome in monozygotic male twins is reported. The expression of the fragile site was discordant in amniotic cells. Fetal blood and, after therapeutic abortion, skin fibroblasts were positive in both fetuses. Our data suggest that great care should be taken when using amniocytes for prenatal diagnosis of the fragile-X syndrome.     

Trisomy 18 with total cranio-rachischisis and thoraco-abdominoschisis.

We describe a further case of trisomy 18 with total cranio-rachischisis and radial agenesis, and report the first case with thoraco-abdominoschisis. We review these rare findings in trisomy 18.     

Umbilical Doppler velocimetry prediction of discordant twins.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of umbilical Doppler velocimetry as a comprehensive test for the prediction of discordant twins. METHODS: The sets of twins were studied with duplex Doppler velocimetry for umbilical artery in third trimester. A systolic/diastolic ratio was measured for each twin. The average difference in the ratios between each twin > or = 0.4 was used to indicate abnormal test. Discordancy was identified when the birth weight difference of > 25%. RESULTS: Among the 52 sets of twin pregnancies studied, 40 sets of twins fulfilled the study criteria. Eight sets of twins were discordant (20%). The mean gestational age at delivery was 37.15 +/- 2.24 weeks (range 28 to 41 weeks). The test correctly identified 6 of the 8 growth discordant twins which had a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 68.75%, and accuracy of 70%. CONCLUSION: Umbilical Doppler velocimetry is useful in prediction of discordant twins.