Selective intrauterine growth restriction without concomitant twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, natural history, and risk factors for fetal death: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the natural history of selective intrauterine growth restriction in monochorionic twin pregnancies based on the Gratacós classification, including progression of, improvement in, or stability of umbilical artery Dopplers and progression to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or twin anemia polycythemia syndrome. We also aimed to investigate risk factors for smaller twin demise.

Data Sources: A systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies published in English up to June 2022 using the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science STUDY ELIGIBILITY: We used retrospective and prospective studies published in English that reported on selective intrauterine growth restriction without concomitant twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

Study Appraisal And Synthesis Methods: Articles that investigated selective intrauterine growth restriction progression and outcomes by umbilical artery Doppler end-diastolic flow (Gratacós classification) were included. Type I included selective intrauterine growth restriction cases with positive end-diastolic flow, type II included those cases with persistently absent end-diastolic flow, and type III included cases with intermittent absent or reversed end-diastolic flow. Pregnancies in which a diagnosis of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or twin anemia polycythemia sequence was made before the diagnosis of selective intrauterine growth restriction were not included in the analysis. A random effects model was used to pool the odds ratios and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I value.

Results: A total of 17 studies encompassing 2748 monochorionic pregnancies complicated by selective intrauterine growth restriction were included in the analysis. The incidence of stable, deteriorating, or improving umbilical artery Dopplers in type I cases was 68% (95% confidence interval, 26-89), 23% (95% confidence interval, 7-40), and 9% (95% confidence interval, 0.0-100), respectively. In type II cases, the incidence was 40% (95% confidence interval, 18-81), 50% (95% confidence interval, 23-82), and 10% (95% confidence interval, 4-37), respectively, and in type III cases, the incidence was 55% (95% confidence interval, 2-99), 23% (95% confidence interval, 9-43), and 22% (95% confidence interval, 6-54), respectively. The risk for progression to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome was comparable between type I (7%) and type III (9%) cases and occurred in 4% (95% confidence interval, 0-67) of type II cases with no significant subgroup differences. Progression to twin anemia polycythemia syndrome was highest in type I cases (12%) and comparable between type II (2%) and III (1%) cases with no significant subgroup differences. Risk factors for smaller twin demise were earlier gestational age at diagnosis (mean difference, -2.69 weeks; 95% confidence interval, -4.94 to -0.45; I, 45%), larger intertwin weight discordance (mean difference, 34%; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-5.38; I, 28%), deterioration of umbilical artery Dopplers for each of type II and III cases (odds ratio, 3.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-6.84; I, 24%; and odds ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 2.31-8.77; I, 0.0%, respectively), and absent or reversed ductus venosus a-wave for each of type II and III cases (odds ratio, 3.35; 95% confidence interval, 2.28-4.93; I, 0.0%; and odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-5.13; I, 0.0%, respectively). Progression to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome was not significantly associated with smaller twin demise for each of type II and III selective intrauterine growth restriction cases.

Conclusion: These findings improve our understanding of the natural history of the types of selective intrauterine growth restriction and of the predictors of smaller twin demise in type II and III selective intrauterine growth restriction cases. The current data provide vital counseling points and support the need for modifications of the current selective intrauterine growth restriction classification system to include the variations in umbilical artery and ductus venosus Dopplers to better identify a cohort that might benefit from fetal intervention for which future multicenter prospective randomized trials are needed.