Use of the Foetal Myocardial Performance Index in monochorionic, diamniotic twin pregnancy: a prospective cohort and nested case-control study.

AIMS

Assess clinical utility of the foetal Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) in evaluation and management of monochorionic, diamniotic twin (MCDA) pregnancies.

METHODS

Prospective cohort of (a) initially uncomplicated MCDA (b) Complicated MCDA, including twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR), and liquor and/or growth discordance (L/GD) not meeting TTTS or sIUGR criteria. TTTS and sIUGR were case-control matched. Routine Dopplers and MPI were taken and correlated to diagnosis and final outcome.

RESULTS

Twenty-six always uncomplicated pairs, 51 always complicated pairs, and seven uncomplicated to pathological pairs were included. TTTS recipient (n = 25) left and right MPI and intertwin difference (ITD) were significantly elevated, however, were already elevated in Stage I (n = 10), and did not predict progression or pregnancy outcome. sIUGR MPI (n = 11) did not differ significantly from control. Of 15-L/GD pairs, two that progressed to TTTS had significantly higher left and right MPI values in the future recipient (0.61 and 0.72) versus future sIUGR larger twins (0.48 and 0.51) or stable L/GD (0.47 and 0.52): p < .01 for all comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, MPI did not add substantial diagnostic/prognostic information to current routine evaluation in established TTTS or sIUGR though potentially differentiated L/GD cases progressing to TTTS.