Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy in twin and triplet pregnancies.
BACKGROUND
Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) is a common dermatosis of unknown aetiology. Multiple pregnancies occur frequently in most reported series of PUPPP and increased abdominal distension has been considered a factor in its causation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of PUPPP in twin and triplet pregnancies.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all the records of patients delivered of twin or triplet pregnancies over an 18-month period at a busy general maternity hospital.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-eight women delivered twins, four of whom developed PUPPP (2.9%). Fourteen women delivered triplet pregnancies, two of whom developed PUPPP (14%). Four of these six multiple pregnancies were conceived by in vitro fertilization.


CONCLUSIONS
The reported rate of PUPPP in single pregnancies is 1 in 200 (0.5%). Our findings suggest that multiple pregnancies are at a higher risk of developing this cutaneous eruption with 2.9% of twin and 14% of triplet pregnancies affected in our study.
Elling
S V
SV
Regional Centre of Dermatology, Mater Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
McKenna
P
P
Powell
F C
FC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014310:Triplets; D014427:Twins; D014581:Urticaria / Q000453:epidemiology*