Long term outcome of small versus appropriate size for gestational age co-twins/triplets.
BACKGROUND
Small for gestational age (SGA) extremely low birthweight (ELBW < 1000 g) survivors often remain small and/or have subnormal school performance. Some are twins/triplets with larger appropriate size for gestational age (AGA) co-twins/triplets.


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether SGA ELBW twins/triplets remain different from their AGA co-twins/triplets.


METHODS
During 1981-1999, 353 SGA ELBW neonates were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit: 267 survived, 54/267 were twins/triplets, and 36/54 had AGA surviving co-twins/triplets. This longitudinal study describes the growth, neurodevelopmental outcome, and school performance of these 36 sets (3-17 years). The children were classified as normal, or having minor, moderate, or severe deficiencies.


RESULTS
Values for birth weight (mean intrapair z score difference 2.26), length (2.74), and head circumference (2.62) were lower in SGA neonates than in AGA co-twins/triplets. SGA survivors remained smaller at 3-6 years of age: mean intrapair z score difference in weight, 1.37, height, 1.54, head circumference, 1.21. From 6 to 17 years, smaller differences persisted. Former SGA children had a tendency to have motor deficiencies (nine SGA v three AGA) and mental retardation (seven v four), same hearing loss (two v two), but significantly more visual abnormalities (15 v 11), behavioural disturbances (14 v five), and speech problems (14 v eight). Twenty four sets were in the same normal level class, often supported by familial/professional help.


CONCLUSIONS
Although raised in the same environment, SGA ELBW survivors remained smaller and had more visual/behavioural/speech problems, but most maintained grade level parity with their AGA siblings, with appropriate help.
Monset-Couchard
M
M
Hopital Cochin, 123 Bd de Port Royal, Paris 75014, France. secret.neonat@cch.ap-hop-paris.fr
de Bethmann
O
O
Relier
J-P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D014310:Triplets; D014427:Twins