A vanishing twin, also known as fetal resorption, is a fetus in a multi-gestation pregnancy which dies in utero and is then partially or completely reabsorbed. In some instances, the dead twin will be compressed into a flattened, parchment-like state known as fetus papyraceus.
Vanishing twins occur in up to one out of every eight multifetus pregnancies and may not even be known in most cases. "High resorption rates, which cannot be explained on the basis of the expected abortion rate...suggest intense fetal competition for space, nutrition, or other factors during early gestation, with frequent loss or resorption of the other twin(s)."
Pregnancies created as a result of IVF..."it frequently happens that more than one amniotic sac can be seen in early pregnancy, whereas a few weeks later there is only one to be seen and the other has "vanished".
Video Vanishing twin
See also
- Chimera (genetics)
- Mosaicism
- Parasitic twin
Maps Vanishing twin
References
Further reading
- Landy, H.J.; Keith, L.G. (1998). "The vanishing twin: a review" (PDF). Human Reproduction Update. 4 (2): 177-183. doi:10.1093/humupd/4.2.177. PMID 9683354.
- Medland, Sarah E.; Wright, M.J.; Geffen, G.M.; et al. (2003). "Special Twin Environments, Genetic Influences and their Effects on the Handedness of Twins and their Siblings". Twin Research. 6 (2): 119-130. doi:10.1375/136905203321536245. PMID 12723998.
- Pharoah, Peter O.; Price, T.S.; Plomin, R. (2002). "Cerebral palsy in twins: a national study" (PDF). Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 87 (2): F122-4. doi:10.1136/fn.87.2.F122. PMC 1721448 . PMID 12193519(Online version required free registration)
External links
- Vanishing twin at eMedicine.com
- Photographic evidence of a vanished twin found on the placenta after delivery of the surviving twin
- A review in Human Reproduction Update
- 50 articles about vanishing twin phenomenon in PubMed
Source of article : Wikipedia
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