Diagnosis and management of mirror syndrome: a case series with emphasis on the potential role of the sFLT-1/PlGF ratio in clinical practice

TL;DR

This study examines mirror syndrome in pregnant women, highlighting the potential use of the sFLT-1/PlGF ratio to help diagnose and manage the condition.

Contribution

The study introduces the potential clinical utility of the sFLT-1/PlGF ratio in differentiating mirror syndrome from preeclampsia.

Findings

Mirror syndrome often presents with maternal hypertension, proteinuria, and fetal hydrops.

An elevated sFLT-1/PlGF ratio was associated with maternal complications or fetal death in most cases.

Biomarker normalization after fetal loss allowed safe continuation of a twin pregnancy.

Abstract

To characterize the maternal clinical, ultrasound, and laboratory parameters, maternal and perinatal outcomes of mirror syndrome, and to discuss the role of sFlt-1/PlGF biomarkers in diagnosis and management.

We conducted a case series including all cases of mirror syndrome diagnosed at a tertiary reference center in Brazil. Clinical, laboratory, ultrasound, and biomarker data were collected, along with maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Nine cases of mirror syndrome were identified, with a mean gestational age at diagnosis of 27+6 weeks. The most frequent maternal findings were lower limb edema (n=7), hypertension (n=8), and proteinuria (n=8). Ultrasound demonstrated fetal hydrops (n=7), polyhydramnios (n=6), and placentomegaly (n=7). Laboratory abnormalities included abnormal proteinuria/creatinuria ratio in 5/8 women tested, elevated 24-hour proteinuria in all 5, anemia in 7, thrombocytopenia in 3, and elevated creatinine in 1. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was measured in 5 women; 4 had abnormal results, with 3 above 85, all of whom developed maternal complications or fetal death. Resolution occurred after a mean of 3.4±3.6 days, due to fetal death (n=3), delivery (n=5), or fetal surgery (n=1). In one monochorionic twin pregnancy complicated by twin–anemia–polycythemia sequence, biomarker normalization after intrauterine death of the hydropic twin allowed safe prolongation of the pregnancy and term delivery of the co-twin.

Mirror syndrome should be suspected in pregnancies presenting with preeclampsia-like features in the setting of fetal hydrops or polyhydramnios. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio may assist in differentiating mirror syndrome from preeclampsia and in identifying women at risk for adverse outcomes.

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