EFFECT OF BIRTH-ORDER ON INCIDENCE OF PERIVENTRICULAR-INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT TWINS

The purpose of the study was to determine whether the incidence of per iventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PV-IVH) is significantly dif ferent between the firstborn and secondborn of very low birth weight t wins. The firstborn and secondborn of 102 sets of twins were compared by incidence of PV-IVH, mode of delivery, birth weight, 5-minute Apgar score, pH, duration of oxygen therapy, duration of ventilator support , and occurrence of patent ductus arteriosus, air leak, bronchopulmona ry dysplasia, or hyaline membrane disease. PV-IVH was graded by the Pa pile classification. Statistical data were analyzed by either the pair ed t test or McNemar's test. Major PT-IVH (grades III and IV) occurred in 11 firstborn and 14 secondborn infants. Minor PV-IVH (grades I and II) occurred in 11 firstborn and 8 secondborn twins. Neither these fi ndings nor those from other measured variables showed a statistically significant difference.