Monoamniotic-versus diamniotic-monochorionic twin placentas: anastomoses and twin-twin transfusion syndrome

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare monoamniotic-monochorionic and diamniotic-monochorionic twin placentas and to estimate the incidence of twin-twin transfusion syndrome in monoamniotic-monochorionic twin pregnancies.

Study design

We analyzed the angioarchitecture and cord insertion distance in 24 monoamniotic-monochorionic and 200 diamniotic-monochorionic placentas.

Results

Compared with diamniotic-monochorionic placentas, monoamniotic-monochorionic placentas had significantly more arterioarterial anastomoses (20/20 vs 159/200, respectively; P = .013), significantly less opposite arteriovenous anastomoses (10/20 vs 165/200, respectively; P = .002), similar venovenous anastomoses (6/20 vs 46/200, respectively; P = .323), and arteriovenous anastomoses (20/20 vs 187/200 respectively; P = .279) and significantly shorter umbilical cord distances (median ±SD], 5.0±6.9 cm vs 17.5±6.8 cm; P<.001).

Conclusion

Monoamniotic-monochorionic and diamniotic-monochorionic placentas have different anastomotic patterns. The (virtually) 100% incidence of arterioarterial anastomoses in monoamniotic-monochorionic placentas explains the reason that twin-twin transfusion syndrome rarely occurs in monoamniotic-monochorionic twin pregnancies and predicts that twin-twin transfusion syndrome manifestations are approximately 5 times less often recognized in monoamniotic-monochorionic pregnancies than in diamniotic-monochorionic pregnancies.