title: Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy in twin and triplet pregnancies.
abstract: 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.
authors: Regional Centre of Dermatology, Mater Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: S V
authors: SV
authors: Elling
authors: P
authors: P
authors: McKenna
authors: F C
authors: FC
authors: Powell
mesh_terms: 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*