Theory of cause of microtia!

[Guest guest]

<< The longer I sat here thinking I also realized that besides my Maternal

Grandfather being a twin,

and my Paternal Grandmother losing several sets of twins. My Maternal Great

Grandmother also had given birth to twins!! This sure is a curious thing to

think about. >>

I'm sitting here thinking the same thing. Besides my confirmed failed twin

pregnancy my husbands mother is a twin. Could be a coincidence but does make

you wonder. So, , beth and myself, anyone else with a twin

connection in the family? Hey we may just solve this theory ourselves LOL

Autumn

[Guest guest]

My son Conor who is 5 months old was born with unilaterial microtia/atresia. We

live in Ireland. Today we received the results of his hearing tests which showed

that he has normal hearing in his normal ear but little in his microtic ear due

it being closed up. The doctor said to hear in it you would need to shout and he

would only hear it as a whisper in this ear. He won't need a hearing aid as one

ear is okay.

Anyway, the ENT doctor we were speaking to had worked previously in Great Ormond

Street Childrens hospital in London in England and he mentioned to us that

probably the best surgeon in the world for rib graft ear reconstruction is Dr

Gault who works at this hospital in London. When I came home I searched

the internet for this hospitals web site and found a copy of an article that was

in " The Times " newspaper by Dr Jane in May 2000 and it says that one

theory about why microtia happens is that it could be connected to a failed twin

pregnancy as if at an early stage one of the twins fails to survive tiny blood

clots might be released into the circulation of the other twin, blocking a

crucial vessel which prevents the ear forming correctly. I find this very

interesting as everybody told me I must have been having twins shortly after I

got pregnant as I got so big so quick! When Conor was born at full term is was

only 6lbs 8oz. There's also twins in my husbands family.

The web page where I found this info is:

www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/patients_fam/collins/columns/ears.htm

Check it out!

[Guest guest]

" ...one theory about why microtia happens is that it could be connected to a

failed twin pregnancy as if at an early stage one of the twins fails to

survive tiny blood clots might be released into the circulation of the other

twin... "

Hi All,

This is a really interesting concept that I hadn't heard before. I will

make it a point to ask Dr. Brent when I see him next. I know that on my

side, my dad is a twin and I have sisters who are twins. It sure would be

helpful to know why microtia occurs as my curiosity sure could use a rest!

Love, beth

>From: FACTBERTE@...

>Reply-To: AtresiaMicrotia

>To: AtresiaMicrotia

>Subject: Re: Theory of cause of microtia!

>Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 17:04:24 EST

>

>

>

>

><< ming correctly. >>

>

>WOW, very interesting. My 2nd son (not born with microtia) was a twin

>pregnancy that I lost in the first trimester. Could my pregnancy with

>Brayden have been also? Very interesting.

>Autumn

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[Guest guest]

The twin theory is interesting. My Maternal Grandfather was a twin and my

Paternal Grandmother had miscarried several sets of twins. Hmmmm.... it makes one

wonder.

Patton

-- Re: Theory of cause of microtia!>Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 17:04:24 EST>>>>><< ming correctly. >>>>WOW, very interesting. My 2nd son (not born with microtia) was a twin>pregnancy that I lost in the first trimester. Could my pregnancy with>Brayden have been also? Very interesting.>Autumn_________________________________________________________________Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[Guest guest]

The longer I sat here thinking I also realized that besides my Maternal Grandfather being a twin,

and my Paternal Grandmother losing several sets of twins. My Maternal Great Grandmother also had given birth to twins!! This sure is a curious thing to think about.

Patton

-- Re: Theory of cause of microtia!>Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 17:04:24 EST>>>>><< ming correctly. >>>>WOW, very interesting. My 2nd son (not born with microtia) was a twin>pregnancy that I lost in the first trimester. Could my pregnancy with>Brayden have been also? Very interesting.>Autumn_________________________________________________________________Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[Guest guest]

no twins in my family before my brother and his wife had 'em...

(maybe they were in HER ancestors..?)

but..

wouldnt an errant blood clot do more damage to some *other* important organ?

like the heart or valves or liver?

sounds a bit strange...i guess surveys might help!

(starting with all of US!) lol!

jack

[Guest guest]

<< My brother has identical twins.....but twins are not very unusual, at

least compared to microtia. >>

Right and the number of failed twin pregnancies that go unnoticed (because

they happen so early in pregnancy same time as ear development) There are

thousands. I was just really interested in this as I have had a failed twin

pregnancy before. I agree there are way too many factors to determine this.

Just a curious study.

[Guest guest]

My brother has identical twins.....but twins are not very unusual, at

least compared to microtia. In fact, twins are much more common these

days due to IVF and because women are waiting longer to have kids. So

I guess one way you could examine this is whether the incidence of

microtia is increasing along with the incidence of having twins.