Neonatal functional lung maturity relative to gestational age at delivery, fetal growth, and pregnancy characteristics in triplet births
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Published on: December 22, 2023
Elizabeth S Moore1, Adam C Elnaggar, John A Wareham
1St. Vincent Women's Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine if functional lung maturity (FtLM) of triplets was affected by differentiating factors within the triplet set.
Methods:
This was a retrospective cohort study of triplets. Data were collected on maternal, pregnancy and neonatal characteristics and FtLM was determined, based on selected neonatal outcomes.
Results:
Functional lung immaturity (FtLI) was found in 35.5% of the infants and occurred in those born between 28.1 and 34.6 weeks gestation. Gestational age at delivery, pre-pregnancy BMI, and gestational diabetes were predictive of an infant having FtLM; while infertility treatment, pre-pregnancy BMI, and preeclampsia were predictors of FtLM discordance.
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrated FtLI was likely at early gestation (<28 weeks) and FtLM was probable beyond 35 weeks. Discordance for FtLM was likely at 32 weeks; therefore, clinicians should guard against complacency that this gestational mark assures an uncomplicated respiratory course for all infants within the set.
