Pregnancy-induced hypertension in twin pregnancy.
A prospective study of 54 primigravid twin pregnancies in Durban showed that pregnancy-induced hypertension occurred in 37%. This was more than twice the expected rate for singleton pregnancies in this Black African population. The babies born in the group of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension were significantly lighter and had a higher rate of fetal growth retardation than the babies born in a normotensive control group of patients matched for age and parity. Monozygotic twins, identified by HLA typing, occurred significantly more often in the group with pregnancy-induced hypertension than in the control group. A possible immunological explanation for this finding is presented.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic