A COMPARISON OF NEONATAL OUTCOMES OF AGE-MATCHED, GROWTH-RESTRICTED TWINS AND GROWTH-RESTRICTED SINGLETONS

A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine whether growth -restricted fetuses of a twin gestation are at increased risk of adver se neonatal outcome compared with growth-restricted singletons. One co hort was comprised of 48 growth-discordant twin pregnancies in which t he birth weight of the smaller twin was less than the tenth percentile . The neonatal outcomes of the 48 growth-restricted twin infants were compared with a cohort of 96 singleton infants matched by gestational age, degree of growth restriction, and gender. Outcomes evaluated incl uded: length of stay, days of assisted ventilation, and diagnoses of m orbidities of prematurity, congenital abnormalities, and neonatal deat h. No significant difference was detected in rates of neonatal morbidi ty or mortality. The overall neonatal death rate in the twins was 125 of 1000 and in the singletons was 104 of 1000 (Odds ratio 1.2, 95% con fidence interval [Cl]0.4-3.3). Growth-restricted twins have similar ra tes of adverse neonatal outcomes as compared with growth-restricted si ngletons, Both have high rates of morbidity and neonatal death. Twins and singletons should receive comparable diagnostic evaluation and ant epartum management for growth restriction.