Long-term developmental follow-up of infants who participated in a randomized clinical trial of amniocentesis vs laser photocoagulation for the treatment of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

Abstract

Objective: We sought to assess long-term neurodevelopment of children who were treated prenatally as part of the Eurofoetus randomized controlled trial.

Study design: The study population was composed of 128 cases of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) included and followed up in France. Survivors were evaluated by standardized neurological examination and by Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ). Primary outcome was a composite of death and major neurological impairment.

Results: A total of 120 children (47%) were alive at the age of 6 months and were followed up to the age of 6 years. At the time of diagnosis, only treatment and Quintero stage were predictors of a poor outcome (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.90; P = .01 and hazard ratio, 3.23; 95% confidence interval, 2.19-4.76; P < .001, respectively). Children treated by fetoscopic selective laser coagulation (FSLC) had higher ASQ scores at the end of follow-up (P = .04).

Conclusion: FSLC was significantly associated with a reduction of the risk of death or long-term major neurological impairment at the time of diagnosis and treatment.