Around 1,000 babies a year suffer from TTTS

(Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome)

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Around 1,000 babies a year suffer from TTTS

(Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome)

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About the Wiseman Trust

  • Established 26 Years
  • Founded in 1993
  • Raised over £1 million in donations
  • Annual Fundraising Events

The Trust was founded following the tragic loss of Richard and Jack Wiseman in the summer of 1993 as a result of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. This little known condition accounts for the deaths of many hundreds of identical twins in single placenta pregnancies. For reasons unknown, the placental blood flow is irregular to the two babies, one receiving too much and the other not enough. This places both babies at extreme risk of a tragedy, both before and after the birth. Richard, Jack, and their mother were treated at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London where research into the condition is at an advanced stage.

This research is concerned with placental bloodflow and progress is anticipated in all abnormalities of bloodflow in unborn babies, whether single or twins. Meanwhile, careful monitoring of a twin pregnancy where there is only one placenta brings other great medical benefits. Already research has led to a large saving of lives when the syndrome has been diagnosed early enough. Where twins are born having been victims of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, they are likely to be extremely premature.

Identical twins are not subject to a family history of multiple birth and can be carried by any mother potentially affecting anyone involved with a pregnancy. Research into blood flow disorders in the womb can benefit single babies or multiple pregnancies. The Trustees are of the opinion that the aims of the Trust will lead to the saving of many babies lives. Any help with fund raising will be most appreciated. The Trust is administered and advised, wherever possible, by kind professionals who give their time free of charge.

Aims

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The aim is to further research the causes of the syndrome so that earlier diagnosis and treatment becomes routine with every multiple pregnancy.

research

Funds research fellowships and equipment in the Centre for Fetal Care at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital and Imperial College London, and more recently at the University of Queensland, Australia.

equipment

The Trust is also dedicated to the provision of equipment for use by Special Care Baby Units and its assistance in this area is under way.

twins

The aim of the Wiseman Trust is to assist research which will ensure that in future Twin-to-Twin Transfusion will no longer be a threat to the lives of unborn babies.

Trust Achievements

Staff Achievements

  • Published 49 original research papers and 26 review articles.
  • Awarded three PhDs (Denbow, Taylor) and two in progress
  • Two best Young Investigator Awards (Denhow, Tan) at International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society 1999, 2003.
  • BUPA Foundation Research Award (Welsh), 2000.
  • President, International Institutes of Health TTTS Trial Committee (Fisk).
  • Gave 101 scientific presentations and 68 invited lectures in 33 countries.

Research Highlights

  • Showed that TTTS is not due to an excess of placental blood vessels, as previously thought, but to a paucity of compensatory vessels, resulting in one twin getting too little blood and the other too much.
  • Demonstrated that severe TTTS may cause brain injury and interfere with heart development.
  • Developed non-invasive techniques for measuring inter-twin blood flow and heart function in identical twins.
  • Devised a new ultrasound test to predict which twins will get TTTS.
  • Introduced a new staging paradigm to tailor treatment, reserving riskier treatments for severe cases.
  • Maintained the world’s largest database of identical twin pregnancies.
  • Major contributor to international trials of new treatments.

Clinical Service

  • Dedicated fetal surveillance and cardiology clinic for identical-twin pregnancies.
  • State-of-the-art equipment including colour Doppler, 3D/4D ultrasound and fetal MRI.
  • National and international referrals.
  • Only UK Centre offering staged therapy.
  • Only UK Centre offering full range of treatments including septostomy, endoscopic and interstitial laser and bipolar diathermy.
  • Sympathetic counselling and bereavement support.
  • Service supported by largest neonatal intensive care unit in the South-East.

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Donations Raised

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Papers Published

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Lectures & Talks Delivered

Testimonials

SOLNA, SWEDEN - JUNE 17: Andy Sinton of England in action during the UEFA Euro 1992 Group 1 match between Sweden and England at the Rasunda Stadium on June 17, 1992 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

I am a very proud supporter of The Wiseman Trust.  The charity has been working tirelessly to find a cure for TTTS for more than twenty years and I understand that great progress is being made through the research it funds.  Playing in the Trust’s annual football fundraiser at Chesham United is always great fun and the annual golf day at Harewood Downs GC in May is another terrific sporting event.  By helping to raise funds through these events, I am sure that the lives of many identical twin babies will be saved.  Keep up the good work!

Andy Sinton

Former international footballer with 12 England caps
tommysmith

The Wiseman Trust does terrific work in funding the research needed to cure TTTS.  It’s an awful disease which is still killing too many identical twin babies right across the world.  Playing in the Trust’s annual football fundraiser at Chesham United is always a pleasure for me.  As a father myself, I’d like to keep supporting the Trust’s excellent work until TTTS is condemned to history.

Tommy Smith

Former professional footballer for Watford, QPR (and many other teams).

My sons Richard and Myles were diagnosed with TTTS by Myles Taylor (Wiseman Trust Fellow) in October 2000. I attended scans with Myles usually twice a week and underwent three interventions which forced TTTS to loosen its grip. My waters broke at 26 weeks almost certainly not as a result of twin to twin and the babies were born shortly afterwards.

They spent just over five months in hospital and came home on oxygen in May last year. They celebrated their first birthday a month ago (off oxygen) and are crawling, babbling, busy with toys and practising standing up. They bring us great joy and we will always be grateful to Myles and the CFC team and the Neonatal Unit Teams, who with the help of sophisticated research and equipment provided by the Trust were able to save our babies.

Catherine

Mother of Twin-to-twin babies