The impact of chorionicity and the type of twin growth on the early neonatal outcome in twin pregnancies – 20 years of experience from one tertiary perinatal center

• Published in: Taiwanese journal of obstetrics & gynecology 2019-07, Vol.58 (4), p.482-486
• Main Authors: Homola, Wojciech, Florjański, Jerzy, Królak-Olejnik, Barbara, Fuchs, Tomasz, Lachowska, Monika, Bek, Wiktor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dichorionic diamniotic twins; Growth discordancy; Monochorionic diamniotic twins; Neonatal outcome; Twin growth type
• ISSN: 1028-4559
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2019.05.009

Twin pregnancies are associated with higher neonatal mortality and morbidity. Growth discordance and monochorionicity are among the factors that worsen the course of pregnancy. The study aimed to assess neonatal conditions and mortality in relation to growth type and chorionicity. Data from 820 pregnant women with twin pregnancies and their 1640 newborns were analyzed. The Apgar score and umbilical artery blood pH, as well as the rate of complications, were compared between dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) and monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins with symmetric and discordant growth. The Student's t-test and the Pearson chi-square test were used for comparisons. There were 576 (70.2%) DCDA pregnancies, including 421 (73.1%) with symmetric growth and 155 (26.9%) with discordant growth, and 244 (29.8%) MCDA pregnancies, including 110 (45.1%) with symmetric growth and 134 (54.9%) with discordant growth. A significantly greater percentage of twins with discordant growth occurred in women older than 34 years than in those that were younger. An Apgar score of ≤7 was significantly more common among MCDA discordant twins, while an arterial umbilical blood pH of