Neonatal adverse outcome in twin pregnancies complicated by small‐for‐gestational age: twin vs singleton reference chart

Author(s):  
C. Briffa ◽  
C. Di Fabrizio ◽  
E. Kalafat ◽  
V. Giorgione ◽  
R. Bhate ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 643
Author(s):  
Veronica Giorgione ◽  
Corey Briffa ◽  
Carolina Di Fabrizio ◽  
Rohan Bhate ◽  
Asma Khalil

Twin pregnancies are commonly assessed using singleton growth and birth weight reference charts. This practice has led to a significant number of twins labelled as small for gestational age (SGA), causing unnecessary interventions and increased risk of iatrogenic preterm birth. However, the use of twin-specific charts remains controversial. This study aims to assess whether twin-specific estimated fetal weight (EFW) and birth weight (BW) charts are more predictive of adverse outcomes compared to singleton charts. Centiles of EFW and BW were calculated using previously published singleton and twin charts. Categorical data were compared using Chi-square or McNemar tests. The study included 1740 twin pregnancies, with the following perinatal adverse outcomes recorded: perinatal death, preterm birth <34 weeks, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and admissions to the neonatal unit (NNU). Twin-specific charts identified prenatally and postnatally a smaller proportion of infants as SGA compared to singleton charts. However, twin charts showed a higher percentage of adverse neonatal outcomes in SGA infants than singleton charts. For example, perinatal death (SGA 7.2% vs. appropriate for gestational age (AGA) 2%, p < 0.0001), preterm birth <34 weeks (SGA 42.1% vs. AGA 16.4%, p < 0.0001), HDP (SGA 21.2% vs. AGA 13.5%, p = 0.015) and NNU admissions (SGA 69% vs. AGA 24%, p < 0.0001), when compared to singleton charts (perinatal death: SGA 2% vs. AGA 1%, p = 0.029), preterm birth <34 weeks: (SGA 20.6% vs. AGA 17.4%, p = 0.020), NNU admission: (SGA 34.5% vs. AGA 23.9%, p < 0.000). There was no significant association between HDP and SGA using the singleton charts (p = 0.696). In SGA infants, according to the twin charts, the incidence of abnormal umbilical artery Doppler was significantly more common than in SGA using the singleton chart (27.0% vs. 8.1%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, singleton charts misclassify a large number of twins as at risk of fetal growth restriction. The evidence suggests that the following twin-specific charts could reduce unnecessary medical interventions prenatally and postnatally.


2022 ◽  
Vol 226 (1) ◽  
pp. S626
Author(s):  
Daniela A. Febres-Cordero ◽  
Ayodele Ajayi ◽  
Liberty G. Reforma ◽  
Alyssa L. Trochtenberg ◽  
Anna M. Modest ◽  
...  

1982 ◽  
Vol 31 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 235-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Neilson

Serial ultrasonic measurement of the biparietal diameter is an unsatisfactory means of detecting the small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetus in twin pregnancies. A new two-stage ultrasound examination schedule, highly effective in detecting the SGA singleton fetus, has been evaluated prospectively in 31 twin pregnancies. The schedule comprises ultrasonic assessment of gestational age in early pregnancy, followed by measurement of the product of the crown–rump length and trunk area of both fetuses at 34–36 weeks. All Nineteen SGA twin fetuses were detected using this schedule; the technique offers several other advantages over serial biparietal cephalometry.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
So Hyun Shim ◽  
Haeng Jun Jeon ◽  
Hye Jin Ryu ◽  
So Hyun Kim ◽  
Seung Gi Min ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Not only preeclampsia but also small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates in the absence of preeclampsia are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of fetuses at increased risk of being growth-restricted enables more appropriate surveillance and optimization of management for reduced risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. We investigated potential value of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio, estimated in late-second and early-third trimester respectively, for prediction of SGA neonates with poor neonatal outcome in the absence of preeclampsia. Methods: Included in this case control study were 530 singleton pregnant women who had attended the prenatal screening program at single institution between January 2011 and March 2012. Demographic and clinical information of maternal and neonatal data were collected. The sFlt-1/ PlGF value at 24 to 28+6 weeks and 29 to 36+6 weeks of gestation were analyzed for comparing appropriate for gestational age control group, SGA and SGA with poor neonatal group. Results: After excluding 22 preeclampsia cases, 47 SGA group and 461 control-group were included. Among SGA group, 17 neonates had adverse neonatal outcome (36.1%, 17/47). Mean gestational age at delivery in SGA group was 37.76±2.05 weeks, which showed no significant difference comparing to control group (38.43±2.1 weeks, p=0.122). The sFlt-1/PlGF ratios at late-second trimester were both higher in the SGA group and poor neonatal SGA group than control group (3.74±2.52 vs 6.73±8.22 vs 7.62±15.2, p=0.63) and especially sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at early-third trimester was significantly higher (14.41±12.5 vs 28.62±37.2 vs 109.12±83.96, p=0.002). As gestational age advances, rapid increase in sflt-1/PlGF ratio detected in poor SGA group comparing to SGA group with no adverse outcome. A cutoff value of 28.15 for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 29 to 36+6weeks significantly predicted SGA neonates who had adverse outcome, with sensitivity and specificity of 76.9% and 88%, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio of SGA with adverse neonatal outcome group was significantly higher than control group. This study suggests the feasibility of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio as helpful objective measurement for predicting the adverse SGA neonatal outcome by providing sFlt-1/PlGF cutoff value, besides ultrasound biometry measurement.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
So Hyun Shim ◽  
Haeng Jun Jeon ◽  
Hye Jin Ryu ◽  
So Hyun Kim ◽  
Seung Gi Min ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Not only preeclampsia but also small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates in the absence of preeclampsia are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of fetuses at increased risk of being growth-restricted enables more appropriate surveillance and optimization of management for reduced risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. We investigated potential value of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio, estimated in late-second and early-third trimester respectively, for prediction of SGA neonates with poor neonatal outcome. Methods Included in this case control study were 530 singleton pregnant women who had attended the prenatal screening program at single institution between January 2011 and March 2012. The maternal serum levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF at 24 to 28+6weeks and 29 to 36+6weeks of gestation were measured for comparing control and SGA group. Results After excluding 22 preeclampsia cases, 47 SGA group and 461 control-group were included. Mean gestational age at delivery in SGA group was 37.76 ± 2.05weeks, which showed no significant difference comparing to control group (38.43 ± 2.1weeks, p=0.122). The sFlt-1/PlGF ratios at late-second trimester and early-third trimester were both higher in the SGA group than control group (7.62 vs 3.74, p=0.63; 28.62 vs 14.42, p=0.037) and especially sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at early-third trimester was significantly higher in the SGA group. Among SGA group, 17 neonates had adverse neonatal outcome (36.1%, 17/47). Both sFlt-1/PlGF ratios in each trimester were also higher in poor SGA group than control group (6.73 vs 3.77, p = 0.379; 109.12 vs 15.27, p=0.002). As gestational age advances, rapid increase in sflt-1/PlGF ratio detected in poor SGA group comparing to SGA group with no adverse outcome. A cutoff value of 28.15 for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 29 to 36+6weeks significantly predicted SGA neonates who had adverse outcome, with sensitivity and specificity of 76.9% and 88%, respectively. Conclusion In this study, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio of SGA with adverse neonatal outcome group was significantly higher than control group. This study suggests the feasibility of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio as helpful objective measurement for predicting the adverse SGA neonatal outcome by providing sFlt-1/PlGF cutoff value, besides ultrasound biometry measurement.


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