Preeclampsia in twin pregnancies: association with selective intrauterine growth restriction

To identify the association between preeclampsia (PE) and selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) in twin pregnancies.

This was a retrospective cohort study of 1004 twin pregnancies from 2008 to 2014. We specifically compared the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of PE between sIUGR and normal-growth twin pregnancies.

PE occurred more frequently in sIUGR pregnancies [29.0% (51/176)] than in normal-growth twin pregnancies [13.1% (99/756), p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio 3.29]. Among sIUGR, the incidence of PE was significantly higher in dichorionic (DC) pregnancies (37.5%, 30/80) than in monochorionic (MC) pregnancies (21.9%, 21/96). The rates of onset at <32 weeks (p = 0.045) and of severe PE (p = 0.025) were higher in sIUGR pregnancies with PE. The systolic blood pressure was also higher in sIUGR pregnancies with PE (152.6 ± 11.8 mmHg) than in normal-growth pregnancies with PE (148.0 ± 8.2 mmHg) (p = 0.042). Additionally, more sIUGR pregnancies were delivered at 32-36 weeks (p = 0.001), and fewer were delivered at ≥36 weeks (p < 0.001). Moreover, the prevalence of severe neonatal asphyxia was higher in sIUGR pregnancies with PE than in normal-growth pregnancies with PE (8.8% versus 2.5%, p = 0.020).

sIUGR is associated with increased odds of developing severe PE in twin pregnancies, leading to poorer perinatal outcomes.