Twin-specific intrauterine 'growth' charts based on cross-sectional birthweight data

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Marij Gielen
  • Patrick J Lindsey
  • Catherine Derom
  • Loos, Ruth
  • Nicole Y Souren
  • Aimee D C Paulussen
  • Maurice P Zeegers
  • Robert Derom
  • Robert Vlietinck
  • Jan G Nijhuis

The assessment of fetal growth is an essential component of good antenatal care, especially for twins. The aims of this study are to develop twin-specific intrauterine 'growth' charts, based on cross-sectional birthweight data, for monochorionic and dichorionic twins according to sex and parity, and to detect twins at risk for neonatal death by comparing the use of twin-specific and singleton charts. The study sample consisted of 76,471 singletons and 8454 twins (4227 pairs) born in East Flanders (Belgium). Birthweights were analyzed using a nonlinear Gaussian regression. After 33 weeks of gestation, the birthweights of twins started to deviate from singletons (difference of 900 grams at 42 weeks). Birthweights of dichorionic twins continued to increase, whereas those of monochorionic twins decreased after week 40 (difference of more than 300 g at 42 weeks). After 31 weeks of gestation, neonatal mortality increased as centile decreased, and was especially high if birthweight was below the twin-specific third centile: .032 (below) versus .007 (above). Using singleton centiles, this was less obvious. In conclusion, twin-specific growth charts, taking chorionicity into account, are more accurate to detect twins at risk for neonatal death. Therefore the presented charts, based on cross-sectional birthweight data, enable an improved assessment of twin growth.

Original languageEnglish
JournalTwin Research and Human Genetics
Volume11
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)224-35
Number of pages12
ISSN1832-4274
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2008
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Belgium, Birth Weight/physiology, Chi-Square Distribution, Data Collection/methods, Female, Fetal Death/etiology, Fetal Development/physiology, Fetal Growth Retardation/physiopathology, Gestational Age, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Parity, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic

ID: 258452660