Neonatal outcome in discordant eutrophic twins: twin growth.
OBJECTIVE
To compare maternal characteristics and neonatal outcome in discordant twin gestations (DT) and concordant twin gestation (CT).


METHODS
Maternal and neonatal data base of live twins >25 weeks' gestation (N=351 pairs) were reviewed for antepartum complications, labor beginning, mode of delivery, neonatal complications, malformations and perinatal mortality. The chi-squared analysis and Student t-tests were used to analyze the differences between discordant and concordant premature and term twin pairs, and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) twins, separately.


RESULTS
DT occurred in 15.1% of all twin pregnancies. In preterm and term DT there were significantly more elective cesareans. Growth discordance among preterm and term eutrophic twins was not connected with increased neonatal death or other complications, except higher incidence of early neurological signs in term DT.


CONCLUSIONS
We strongly believed that prematurity and not discordant growth of eutrophic twins has important influence on neonatal outcome.
Smiljan Severinski
N
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Cambierieva 17/5, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia. nedas@medri.hr
Mamula
O
O
Petrovic
O
O
D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014427:Twins