Related Experiment Videos
Relation between hemoglobin discordance and adverse outcome in monochorionic twins
Y Honma1, H Minakami, Y Eguchi
1Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|March 17, 1999
Summary
Discrepancies in birth weight and hemoglobin levels in monochorionic twins significantly impact infant outcomes. Higher discordance in birth weight and hemoglobin concentration indicates a greater risk of adverse outcomes by one year of age.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Twin pregnancy research
- Pediatric development
Background:
- The impact of birth weight and hemoglobin concentration discrepancies on infant outcomes in monochorionic (MC) and dichorionic (DC) twins remains under-investigated.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for improving neonatal care for twin gestations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of birth weight and hemoglobin concentration discordance on infant outcomes in MC and DC twins.
- To evaluate psychomotor development up to 1 year of corrected age in relation to these discordances.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study analyzed 95 twin pregnancies (190 neonates).
- Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) discordance was calculated as the percentage of the smaller twin's Hb relative to the larger twin.
- Infant psychomotor development was assessed between 12 and 18 months corrected age.
Main Results:
- In MC twins, a higher Hb discordance (>100%) was associated with significantly increased disabilities by 1.5 years (28% vs. 3.6%, p<0.05).
- A trend of increased disabilities with greater birth weight discordance was observed in MC twins.
- While a similar trend was noted in DC twins, it did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Greater birth weight and hemoglobin concentration discordance in MC twins are linked to adverse infant outcomes at 1 year.
- Specifically, Hb discordance indicating polycythemia in the smaller twin is associated with poorer outcomes in MC twins.