SONOGRAPHIC GROWTH-CURVES OF TRIPLET CONCEPTIONS

The diagnosis of inappropriate intrauterine fetal growth in triplet pr egnancies requires normal standard sonographically determined growth c urves. The aim of the present study was to establish such nomograms. T he biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length, head and abdominal circumf erences (HC, AC) were once in 3 weeks sonographically evaluated in 108 normal triplet fetuses. The resulting growth curves were compared wit h those of normal singleton fetuses. The data showed that, compared wi th singletons, the mean triplet fetal BPD progressively lags to a maxi mum of 2 1/2 weeks as pregnancy continuous from the 25th to the 36th g estational week. Similarly, mean femur length of triplet fetuses gradu ally shortfalls to the greatest of 2 weeks as gestation advances from the 25th to the 36th week. HC to AC ratio of the triplet fetuses does not differ from the singletons curve. It may be concluded that a norma l fetal growth curve in triplet pregnancies demonstrates a 1- to 3-wee k delay compared with singleton gestations.