N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels in monochorionic diamniotic twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction.
OBJECTIVE
To compare serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels at birth between monochorionic diamniotic twins with and without selective intrauterine growth restriction.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 73 monochorionic diamniotic twins without twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Two groups were studied on the basis of fetal ultrasonographic findings: 16 twins with and 57 twins without selective intrauterine growth restriction. Selective intrauterine growth restriction was defined as an estimated fetal weight below the 10th percentile in one twin at 18 to 26 weeks of gestation. Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were measured.


RESULTS
Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels in monochorionic diamniotic twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction were significantly higher than in those without selective intrauterine growth restriction. Selective intrauterine growth restriction was independently associated with increased N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels.


CONCLUSIONS
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels at birth are elevated in monochorionic diamniotic twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction.
Department of Neonatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital Perinatal Center, Kobe, Japan.
K
K
Fujioka
Department of Neonatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital Perinatal Center, Kobe, Japan.
M
M
Mizobuchi
Department of Neonatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital Perinatal Center, Kobe, Japan.
H
H
Sakai
Department of Neonatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital Perinatal Center, Kobe, Japan.
S
S
Iwatani
Department of Neonatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital Perinatal Center, Kobe, Japan.
K
K
Wada
Department of Neonatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital Perinatal Center, Kobe, Japan.
S
S
Yoshimoto
Department of Neonatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital Perinatal Center, Kobe, Japan.
H
H
Nakao
D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain