title: Effect of inter-twin delivery interval on neonatal haemoglobin concentration.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the inter-twin delivery interval on neonatal haemoglobin concentration. We retrospectively analysed 108 twin deliveries over a 5-year period. Chorionicity was determined by first trimester ultrasound or placental histopathology. The mode of delivery, time of delivery and cord/neonatal blood counts were recorded. A total of 88 sets of dichorionic and 20 sets of monochorionic twins were studied. There was no correlation between inter-twin delivery interval and haemoglobin difference (rho = 0.020, p = 0.857). In monochorionic twin pregnancies, there was a trend towards increasing inter-twin hemoglobin differences with prolonged delivery intervals. However, this trend did not reach statistical significance (rho = -0.303, p = 0.193). In monochorionic twins, there is a trend towards a lower haemoglobin concentration in the twin delivered second. This haemoglobin deficit appears to be related to the inter-twin delivery interval.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Unit, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhide
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prefumo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sairam
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cobian-Sanchez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thilaganathan
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D013997:Time Factors; D014427:Twins
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins