title: Neonatal outcome of growth discordant twin gestations.
abstract: The aim of the study was to compare a variety of neonatal outcome variables of growth concordant twin gestations (CT) to that of growth discordant twins (DT). Maternal and neonatal charts of live, non-anomalous twins > 25 weeks' gestation from 1984-2000 with no evidence of twin-twin transfusion syndrome were reviewed for several variables. DT occurred in (N = 81) 11.9% of all twin pregnancies. In 61.7% of DT, twin B was the smaller of the twins. There was no difference in maternal age, admission indications, or antepartum complications between both groups. DT had a significantly higher incidence of growth restriction compared to CT (88.9% vs 43.5%, p < 0.001). More mothers of DT required oxytocin (37.0% vs 26.3%, p = 0.024); however, cesarean delivery rate and indications were similar in both groups. A similar percentage of infants had AS < 4 at 1 min and AS < 7 at 5 min in both groups. There was no difference between the 2 groups in neonatal complications including: trauma, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumonia, seizures, or neonatal mortality. However, DT had a significantly higher incidence of hyperbilirubinemia, need for mechanical ventilation and a longer nursery stay. The neonatal outcome of growth discordant twins is worse than that of concordant twins even in pregnancies uncomplicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome or congenital anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Anwar H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: Ihab M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Naji A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Aswad
authors.forename: Muhieddine A F
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Seoud
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001722:Birth Order; D001724:Birth Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome