IVF pregnancies: neonatal outcomes after the new Italian law on assisted reproduction technology (law 40/2004).
OBJECTIVE
To compare maternal and neonatal outcome of pregnancies achieved by assisted reproduction technique (ART) according to the guidelines of the newly established Italian ART law 40/2004, with that of naturally conceived.


METHODS
Three hundred and sixty-four ART pregnancies and 304 naturally conceived pregnancies were analyzed in terms of the incidence of obstetric complications and perinatal outcome. Control group was enrolled prospectively after being matched for an extensive number of maternal characteristics.


RESULTS
Among singletons, ART pregnancies when compared to naturally conceived pregnancies showed a higher incidence of pregnancy loss (23.4% versus 10.5%) and a lower mean birth weight. A higher but not significant incidence of small for gestational age fetuses was observed in ART pregnancies, compared to those from normally conceived pregnancies (7.2% versus 2.7%). Moreover, the ART pregnancies showed a slightly, but nonetheless significantly shorter mean gestational age (38.6 versus 39.3 weeks) and more frequent preterm deliveries (11%) than the control group (2.7%). No difference was found in terms of other obstetric complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes and placental abruption. Neonatal outcome was similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the obstetric outcome among singleton ART pregnancies was good, these patients should be considered obstetric risk cases. The different frequency of complications is not related to maternal age or parity and could be the consequence of infertility or the procedures by which these women conceived. The reasons are, however, unclear and further studies are necessary.
Caserta
Donatella
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza II, Rome, Italy.
Marci
Roberto
R
Tatone
Carla
C
Schimberni
Mauro
M
Vaquero
Elena
E
Lazzarin
Natalia
N
Fazi
Alessandra
A
Moscarini
Massimo
M
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards