Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Survivors of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a severe complication of monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies associated with high perinatal mortality and morbidity rates. Management in TTTS is a major challenge for obstetricians and neonatologists. Twins with TTTS are often born prematurely after an extremely distressing and highly hazardous fetal period.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Behavioral Functioning after Intrauterine Transfusion for Alloimmune Anemia.

Objective: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and behavioral functioning in children and adolescents treated before birth with intrauterine intravascular blood transfusion for alloimmune anemia.

Study Design: Cross-sectional cohort study conducted at the Dutch referral center for the management of fetal alloimmune anemia. Follow-up data were available for 285 children at a mean age of 10.

Neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years in twin-twin transfusion syndrome survivors randomized for the Solomon trial.

Background: The preferred treatment for twin-twin transfusion syndrome is fetoscopic laser coagulation of inter-twin vascular anastomoses on the monochorionic placenta. Severe postoperative complications can occur when inter-twin vascular anastomoses remain patent including twin-anemia polycythemia sequence or recurrent twin-twin transfusion syndrome. To minimize the occurrence of residual anastomoses, a modified laser surgery technique, the Solomon technique, was developed in which the entire vascular equator is coagulated.

Immunoglobulins in Neonates with Rhesus Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn: Long-Term Outcome in a Randomized Trial.

Objective: Prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) does neither reduce the need for exchange transfusion nor the rates of other adverse neonatal outcomes in neonates with rhesus hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (rhesus HDFN) according to our randomized controlled trial analysis. Our objective was to assess the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in the children included in the trial and treated with either IVIg or placebo.

Methods: All families of the children included in the trial were asked to participate in this follow-up study.

Improvement in neurodevelopmental outcome in survivors of twin-twin transfusion syndrome treated with laser surgery.

Objective: To compare the incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment in surviving children from pregnancies with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) treated with laser surgery between 2 time periods.

Study Design: We compared the neurodevelopmental outcome between the first consecutive cohort of TTTS pregnancies treated with laser surgery from 2000 to 2005, with a cohort treated between 2008 and 2010. Neurologic, cognitive, and motor development was evaluated using Bayley scales at 2 years of age corrected for prematurity.

Long-term neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular outcome after intrauterine transfusions for fetal anaemia: a review.

Perinatal survival rates after intrauterine transfusions (IUT) for red cell alloimmunisation now exceed 90%, which demonstrates the safety and efficacy of one of the most successful procedures in fetal therapy. However, improved perinatal survival could lead to an increased number of children with long-term disabilities. The importance of long-term follow-up studies in fetal therapy lies in both the necessity of evaluation of antenatal management as well as in evidence-based preconceptional and prenatal counselling.

Cerebral injury and neurodevelopmental impairment after amnioreduction versus laser surgery in twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To estimate the odds of severe cerebral injury and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment in monochorionic twins treated with amnioreduction versus laser surgery for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on cerebral injury and long-term impairment after amnioreduction versus laser surgery were conducted. Odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed.

Intrauterine transfusion for parvovirus B19 infection: long-term neurodevelopmental outcome.

Objective: To evaluate long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of children treated with intrauterine transfusions for fetal anemia because of parvovirus B19 infection.

Study Design: Children treated with intrauterine transfusions for fetal anemia because of parvovirus B19 infection underwent standardized age-appropriate neurodevelopmental testing. Main outcome was the incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment.

Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome after intrauterine transfusion for hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn: the LOTUS study.

Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors for neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in children with hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn treated with intrauterine transfusion (IUT).

Study Design: Neurodevelopmental outcome in children at least 2 years of age was assessed using standardized tests, including the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, according to the children's age. Primary outcome was the incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment defined as at least one of the following: cerebral palsy, severe developmental delay, bilateral deafness, and/or blindness.

Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome after intrauterine transfusion for fetal anemia.

The long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of children born after intrauterine blood transfusion (IUT) for red cell alloimmunization is considered favorable. Severe hydrops has been identified as a strong predictor for neurodevelopmental impairment. However, the long-term outcome of survivors of IUT for congenital Parvovirus B19 infection and fetomaternal hemorrhage is not well known.

Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in monochorionic twins after fetal therapy.

Monochorionic (MC) twins are at risk for several disorders, including twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), Twin Reverse Arterial Perfusion (TRAP) and selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR). Several fetal interventions, such as serial amnioreduction (AR), fetoscopic laser coagulation of placental anastomoses (FLC) and selective feticide have lead to improved perinatal morbidity and mortality rates. Nevertheless, the rate of cerebral lesions in MC twins after fetal therapy appears to be high.

Long-Term follow up after intra-Uterine transfusionS; the LOTUS study.

Background: The Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) is the Dutch national referral centre for pregnancies complicated by haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) caused by maternal alloimmunization. Yearly, 20-25 affected fetuses with severe anaemia are transfused with intra-uterine blood transfusions (IUT). Mothers of whom their fetus has undergone IUT for HDFN are considered high responders with regard to red blood cell (RBC) antibody formation.

Child and parental adaptation to pediatric stem cell transplantation.

Goals Of Work: Allogeneic pediatric stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a very intensive treatment with a high mortality and morbidity. The objectives of this study were to assess the (1) self- and proxy-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to a norm group, (2) levels of parenting stress compared to a norm group, (3) differences in HRQoL and parenting stress pre- and post-SCT, and (4) effect of child age and parenting stress on self- and proxy-reported HRQoL pre- and post-SCT.

Materials And Methods: Pre- and on average 10 months post-SCT, 21 children and adolescents and their parent(s) completed questionnaires on HRQoL and the mothers completed a measure of parenting stress.

Assessment of parental psychological stress in pediatric cancer: a review.

Objectives: We present an overview of the literature between 1997 and 2007 on parental stress reactions following the diagnosis of childhood cancer and we evaluate methodological strengths and weaknesses of the studies.

Methods: PubMed, PsychInfo, and Cinahl databases were used. Sixty-seven were included in the review.