Risk in twin pregnancies after the use of assisted reproductive techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze whether there is an increased perinatal risk for twin pregnancies after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).


METHODS
The medical files of 216 twin pregnancies (group 1) conceived through IVF/ICSI and 377 spontaneously conceived twin pregnancies (group 2) were assessed retrospectively. Data on gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit admission, duration of hospitalization, perinatal mortality and malformations were recorded. Statistical analysis was made by the chi2 test. Differences of the means of parametric data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test.


RESULTS
The frequency of cesarean section was higher in group 1. Mean gestational age, frequency of preterm birth, birth weight, and frequency of low birth weight and very low birth weight were similar in both groups. The frequency of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants was significantly higher in group 1. Perinatal outcome, rate of malformations and neonatal mortality rate were similar in the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We found an increased risk of SGA infants in IVF/ICSI twin pregnancies as compared to spontaneously conceived twin pregnancies.
Shebl
Omar
O
In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Landesfrauen- und Kinderklinik, Linz, Austria. omar.shebl@gespag.at
Ebner
Thomas
T
Sommergruber
Michael
M
Sir
Andreas
A
Tews
Gernot
G
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014427:Twins