title: Does 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate affect fetal biometry and birth weight in twin pregnancy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increasingly, maternal administration of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) is utilized to prevent preterm birth, but the fetal safety of 17-OHPC is still a matter of concern. This study aimed to assess whether exposure to 17-OHPC during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy affects fetal biometry in twin gestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included a subset of women with a twin pregnancy who had been previously included in a randomized clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of 17-OHPC and placebo on neonatal outcomes and preterm birth rates in multiple pregnancy. In the present study, the individual growth patterns of femur length, head circumference and abdominal circumference were compared between fetuses of women who had been randomized to receive weekly injections of either 17-OHPC (n = 52) or placebo (n = 58) at between 16-20 and 36 weeks' gestation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three biometric variables assessed developed similarly in fetuses in both the group exposed to 17-OHPC and the placebo group during the second half of pregnancy. Birth weight adjusted for parity and fetal sex was also comparable between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of 17-OHPC has no adverse effects on fetal biometry and birth weight in twins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Lundlaan 6, Utrecht, The Netherlands. emulder@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: E J H
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: E M J
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Versteegh
authors.forename: K W M
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Bloemenkamp
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: B W J
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bekedam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bruinse
authors.forename: G C M L
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Christiaens
mesh_terms: D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate; D000328:Adult; D001699:Biometry; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D049628:Body Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D059285:Pregnancy, Twin; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014427:Twins
chemical_list: D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011372:Progestins; D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate
keywords: 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate; fetal growth; preterm birth; twins