title: Outcome in single and twin pregnancies at 20 to 24 weeks gestation: ten years experience in one perinatal center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the outcome at 20 to 24 weeks gestation of twin and singleton extremely low birth weight infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of live newborns at 20 to 24 weeks gestation admitted to one neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from 2000 to 2009. Outcome mortality and predictors of outcome were evaluated. Results were compared for twin and singleton infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cohort of infants consisted of 60 singleton infants and 17 twins. The results suggest an increased risk of death for twins when compared with singletons. A correlation between neonatal C-reactive protein (CRP) and bacterial culture positive results on admission to NICU might be a predictor of neonatal outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In extremely low birth weight infants, twin delivery is associated with an independent increased risk of death. Both first- and second-born twins are at increased risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Faculty of Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. louwen@em.unifrankfurt.de
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Louwen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antwerpen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reitter
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinhard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D047928:Premature Birth
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein