The Placental Transfusion Syndrome in Monozygous Twins

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Abstract
Monozygous twins were found to have a gross difference in hemoglobin values at birth, the anemic baby showing thrombocytopenia; this baby has since been found to be retarded in development, and has cataracts and impaired hearing. Placental vascular anastomoses have been demonstrated, and it is suggested that twin-to-twin transfusion took place from the very early months of the pregnancy. Skin grafts were performed for the first time in twins affected by this syndrome; these confirmed the fact that the twins were uniovular, but the appearances were somewhat unusual. Previous case reports are reviewed; comparison is made to a similar syndrome in experimental animals.