High intensity focused ultrasound could be used to relieve twin-twin transfusion syndrome, British researchers reported last night.
Severe cases are currently treated by laser to separate the shared placental blood supply to twins.
This is an invasive procedure involving a puncture in the uterus – and, according to the new research, ultrasound can selectively target and destroy placental blood vessels.
So far the new technique has been tested in laboratory conditions using anaesthetised sheep.
The study showed that the technique can destroy placental blood vessels without damaging the foetus.
The researchers made an incision of the abdomen of the animals but not in the uterus.
Their findings were published in Science Translational Medicine.
The research involved Imperial College, London, and Cambridge University, and used technology developed at the Institute of Cancer Research, London.
The researchers say it may be possible to use the new technique at an earlier stage than laser treatment – which cannot be used until five months of gestation.
Researcher Dr Christoph Lees, of Imperial College, said: "Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome can have tragic consequences, and in severe cases results in one tiny twin, while the other is very large – and begins to squash its sibling in the womb. Unfortunately, the little baby often does very badly – and in some cases the condition results in the loss of both twins.
"Yet at the moment the only option we have for these serious cases – laser treatment – carries risk of premature birth or miscarriage. Furthermore, the laser can sometimes not reach some abnormal vessels deep in the placenta."
"Although this is very early-stage research, it shows the procedure can successfully destroy blood vessels in the placenta – and could potentially stop abnormal blood flow between twin babies. We now hope to continue developing this HIFU procedure, translate these findings to humans, and work towards human trials."
Non-invasive high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of twin-twin transfusion syndrome: A preliminary in vivo study. Science Translational Medicine 14 July 2016 [abstract]
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