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Birth defects in twins: study in a Spanish population
1Department of Genetics, Hospital Virgen del Camino, Pamplona, Spain.
Acta Geneticae Medicae Et Gemellologiae
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Congenital defect rates in twins are similar to singletons, but like-sex twins show higher risks for certain birth defects, including central nervous system and cardiovascular issues.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatrics
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Congenital malformations represent a significant global health concern.
- Twin pregnancies present unique considerations for fetal development and birth defect risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the comparative risk of specific congenital defects in twins versus singletons.
- To analyze defect rates based on twin zygosity and sex composition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECEMC).
- Compared congenital defect rates between twin pairs and singleton births.
- Analyzed defect prevalence by twin sex concordance (like-sex vs. unlike-sex) and specific defect types.
Main Results:
- Overall congenital defect rates were comparable between twins (2.37%) and singletons (2.21%).
- Like-sex (LS) twin pairs exhibited elevated risks for central nervous system (RR=2.8), cardiovascular (RR=2.5), and genitourinary (RR=1.6) defects compared to singletons.
- Male-male (MM) twin pairs showed a higher incidence of hypospadias (RR=1.9).
Conclusions:
- While overall congenital defect risk is similar, specific malformations are more prevalent in certain twin types.
- LS twins face increased risks for neural tube, cardiac, and urogenital anomalies.
- Further research is warranted to understand the etiological factors contributing to these observed differences.