title: Clinical characteristics of early-onset pre-eclampsia in singleton versus multiple pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the clinical differences between multiple and singleton pregnancies with early-onset pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present retrospective cohort study included patients with early-onset pre-eclampsia diagnosed at a tertiary hospital in China between January 2012 and June 2014. The patients were divided into a multiple pregnancy group (MP group) and a singleton pregnancy group (SP group). Differences in maternal and fetal outcomes before and after birth were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 100 patients were included (21 MP group; 79 SP group). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure values at admission were significantly lower in the MP group than in the SP group (P=0.032 and P=0.015, respectively), and the incidence of pregnancy edema was significantly higher (P=0.015). Moreover, the mean neonatal birth weight in the MP group was significantly higher than that in the SP group (P<0.001). The frequencies of abnormal umbilical arterial resistance score, abnormal fetal heart rate, low birth weight, low Apgar score, neonatal cardiovascular abnormalities, and neonatal infections were significantly lower in multiple pregnancies (P<0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early-onset pre-eclampsia in multiple pregnancies seems to have a protective effect on neonatal survival and improves maternal and fetal outcomes. Disease progression might be delayed when compared with early-onset pre-eclampsia in singleton pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: m13701622704@163.com.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Clinical differences; Early-onset pre-eclampsia; Multiple pregnancy; Singleton pregnancy