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Fetal biometric parameters, twin type and birth weight difference. A longitudinal study
C Charlemaine1, M Duyme, Y Ville
1Unité de Recherches d'Epidémiologie Génétique, INSERM U 155, Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Biologique, Université Paris VII, Tour 16, 3eétage, Case 7041, 2 Place Jussieu, 75005 05, Paris, France.
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
|September 23, 2000
Summary
Twin type and birth weight discordancy significantly impact fetal growth measurements. Abdominal area may indicate obstetric complications in twins, highlighting the importance of detailed twin analysis.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Fetal Medicine
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Twin pregnancies present unique growth dynamics compared to singleton gestations.
- Understanding factors influencing fetal growth in twins is crucial for optimizing perinatal outcomes.
- Birth weight discordancy is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes in twin pregnancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of twin type (zygosity, chorionicity) and birth weight difference on fetal biometric measurements.
- To analyze these relationships across different gestational ages (18, 23, 28, and 32 weeks).
- To identify specific biometric parameters associated with discordant growth in twins.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, longitudinal study of 75 twin pairs (150 fetuses) without twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
- Classification of twin pairs into dizygotic, monochorionic, and dichorionic-monozygotic groups.
- Division of twin pairs into two groups based on birth weight difference: <15% (Group I) and >=15% (Group II).
- Evaluation of various ultrasound-derived fetal biometric parameters and intrapair differences.
Main Results:
- Significant associations between twin type, gestational age, and fetal biometric parameters were observed in dizygotic and monochorionic twins.
- Intrapair differences in most fetal parameters were significantly higher in the discordant growth group (Group II) compared to the concordant group (Group I).
- Abdominal circumference (AC) and cerebellar parameters showed less significant intrapair differences related to birth weight discordancy.
- Specific biometric parameters like femur length (FL) and transverse cerebellar diameter showed differential associations with birth weight discordancy depending on zygosity type.
Conclusions:
- Fetal biometric parameters are largely associated with birth weight discordancy in twin pregnancies.
- Abdominal area measurements may serve as a valuable indicator for identifying twins at risk of obstetric complications.
- This study provides novel insights by analyzing twin samples stratified by both twin type and birth weight discordancy.