Perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies after in vitro fertilization.
BACKGROUND
There are conflicting data concerning perinatal outcome of twin, in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare perinatal and neonatal outcomes in twin IVF pregnancies to those of spontaneously conceived twin gestations.


METHODS
The medical files of 73 IVF and 148 naturally conceived twin pregnancies were studied retrospectively. Data concerning maternal characteristics, obstetric complications, and neonatal outcome were recorded and compared by chi2 test. The one-way analysis of variance (anova) was used to compare the means of groups.


RESULTS
Mean maternal age, the proportion of nulliparous women, and the incidence of premature rupture of membranes, cesarean section, and premature delivery were significantly higher in the study group. The mean birthweight was significantly lower, the frequency of admission to the intensive care unit and the duration of hospitalization were significantly higher in the study group. The incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage was significantly higher in the IVF group. The number of perinatal deaths was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
IVF twin pregnancies are at greater risk for obstetric complications and adverse neonatal outcome in comparison with naturally conceived twin gestations.
Department of Neonatology, University of Crete, Greece.
Antonia
A
Manoura
Eftyhia
E
Korakaki
Eleftheria
E
Hatzidaki
Stylianos
S
Bikouvarakis
Maria
M
Papageorgiou
Christine
C
Giannakopoulou
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D008499:Medical Records; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014427:Twins