Evaluation of intrauterine growth pattern of twins by linear discriminant analysis of the values of biparietal diameter, femur length and abdominal circumference1.
In a cross-sectional study, the intrauterine growth pattern of 32 twins was compared to that of 205 singletons by analysis of the coefficients of the equations of biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL) and abdominal circumference (AC). Lower values were observed in twins from the 20th week. BPD and AC curves showed a progressively diverging pattern, and yielded different coefficients of equations. AC showed the highest discriminant capacity followed by BPD and FL. Combined values of the two series solved by discriminant function output produced an overlapping of 58%. Based on our data, nomograms of growth of singletons should not be used for twins.
Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and AT, University of Ferrara, Italy.
A
A
Farina
F
F
Vesce
P
P
Garutti
G
G
Jorizzo
A
A
Bianciotto
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D001699:Biometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D014427:Twins; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal