title: A comparative study of obstetric outcomes in electively or spontaneously reduced triplet pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at evaluating the pregnancy outcomes of IVF triplets which are spontaneously or electively reduced to twins and to compare them with non-reduced triplets and twins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of trichorionic triplets and dichorionic twins of IVF pregnancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preeclampsia rate was significantly higher in triplet group (p = 0.014). Premature contractions requiring tocolysis were seen more often in spontaneous reduction and triplet groups compared to elective reduction and twin groups (p < 0.001). Elective reduction and twin groups had significantly lower rate of infants weighing less than 1,500 g than those of triplets (p < 0.001). Highest rate for infants weighing over 2,500 g was found in primary twin group. Preterm delivery rates were significantly lower in both twin and elective reduction groups compared to triplet and spontaneous reduction groups (p < 0.001). Proportion of women giving birth at term was not different in elective reduction and twin groups, and they were significantly higher compared to spontaneous reduction group (p = 0.024). Perinatal mortality rates of both elective reduction and twin groups were significantly less than those in the triplet group (p = 0.045 and p < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obstetric outcomes of triplets from IVF or ovulation induction cycles undergoing elective reduction are better than ongoing triplet and spontaneous reduction groups and are similar to that of dichorionic twins.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Balcova, 35340, Izmir, Turkey, dremreokyay@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okyay
authors.forename: Sabahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altunyurt
authors.forename: Didem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soysal
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaymak
authors.forename: Sunullah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soysal
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danisman
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gulekli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D059286:Pregnancy, Triplet; D059285:Pregnancy, Twin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014310:Triplets; D014427:Twins