Today, Vanishing twin is a topic that arouses great interest and generates debate in different areas of society. Whether due to its historical relevance, its impact on popular culture or its influence on everyday life, Vanishing twin has become a topic of global relevance. From scientific research to social trends, Vanishing twin has taken on a central role in public discourse, capturing the attention of people of all ages and backgrounds. In this article, we will analyze different aspects related to Vanishing twin, exploring its meaning, its evolution over time and its presence today.
A vanishing twin, also known as twin resorption, is a fetus in a multigestation pregnancy that dies in uteroand is then partially or completely reabsorbed.[1][2] In some instances, the dead twin is compressed into a flattened, parchment-like state known as fetus papyraceus.[3]
Vanishing twins occur in up to one of every eight multifetus pregnancies and may not even be known in most cases.[4] "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)."[5] Vanishing twin syndrome has been characterized as the loss of a twin before 12 weeks of gestation, or early during the first trimester where it is uncommon for twin pregnancy to have been identified.[6]
According to Boklage, most twin pregnancies are ultimately born as singles, and vanished twins are a possible source of abnormal cells.[7] In one study, Boklage reported of 325 twin pregnancies, finding that only 61 ended as twins, a 125 ended as singletons. The remainder were lost. He has estimated that for every twin pair born, there are six singletons who survived a twin conception.[8]
In pregnancies achieved by in vitro fertilization, "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'".[9]
^Boklage CE (1995). "Chapter 4:The frequency and survivability of natural twin conceptions". In Keith LG, Papiernik E, Keith DM, Luke B (eds.). Multiple Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Gestation and Perinatal Outcome (1st ed.). New York: Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 41–42, 49. ISBN978-1-85070-666-3. OCLC32169252.