Placental emboli from a fetus papyraceous.

A syndrome in monozygotic twins that consists of a macerated twin fetus (fetus papyraceous) and a live-born twin with various anatomical defects has been described. The etiology is thought to be placental transfer of emboli or thromboplastic material through vascular shunts. Thromboplastic material precipitates disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in the fetus, with a resultant hypercoagulable state due to relative fetal antithrombin III deficiency. Two cases of this syndrome will be discussed. The case of a live-born twin with intestinal atresia, who developed in utero with a fetus papyraceous, is reported. Emboli were demonstrated in vascular shunts of the diamniotic-monochorionic placenta. The hypothesis of intestinal atresia as a result of a vascular accident is reviewed. Another case involving a live-born twin with congenital skin defects, who developed in utero with a fetus papyraceous, is also reported. The skin defects were a congenital disruption from fetal DIC with resultant hypercoagulable state. Several other manifestations of the placental emboli syndrome will be discussed and the vascular etiology of the disruptions explained.