MATERNAL AND PERINATAL COMPLICATIONS IN TRIPLET COMPARED WITH TWIN PREGNANCY

Objective: To compare maternal and perinatal complications in triplet and twin pregnancies. Study design: Case-controlled study in the setti ng of a University Hospital. Each pregnancy of a consecutive series of 40 triplet pregnancies of 20 weeks or more was matched for parity and maternal age with two sets of twins delivered in the same year. Prima ry end points of the analysis were maternal complications and perinata l outcome. Results: Of the triplets 82% and of the twins 36% were a re sult of assisted reproduction. Pre-term labor occurred significantly m ore often in triplet than in twin gestation. Triplets had a significan tly lower median birth-weight (1478 vs. 2030 g) and gestational age at delivery (32 vs. 35.5 weeks). The mean neonatal hospital stay was sig nificantly longer in triplets, mainly related to the lower birth-weigh t, but there was no significant difference between triplets and twins in the incidence of major neonatal complications. Conclusion: This dat a of the anticipated perinatal outcome in triplet and twin pregnancies may be used to counsel women with a triplet pregnancy considering sel ective reduction to twins. All methods of assisted reproduction should aim at prevention of multifetal gestation.