Fetal anomalies in twins

The risk of structural malformations is increased in twins, especially in monozygotic twins. This paper reviews the sonographic features of the twin-twin transfusion syndrome, conjoined twins, acardiac twins and fetus-in-fetu. Early diagnosis may lead to appropriate patient counselling and improve decision-making in these rare twinning-specific malformations.     

双胎出生体重的影响因素及不同一性双胎的高危因素分析

目的 探讨双胎出生体重的影响因素及发生不同一性双胎的高危因素.方法 收集2000年1月至2009年12月在中山大学附属第三医院及2000年1月至2009年6月在中山大学附属第一医院住院分娩的834例双胎妊娠的临床资料,以双胎间出生体重差异≥25%为标准诊断不同一性双胎75例,采用协方差分析及非条件Logistic回归方法回顾性分析多种因素与双胎出生体重及不同一性双胎的关系.结果 本组资料不同一性双胎的发生率为8.99%(75/834).孕妇年龄、受孕方式、绒毛膜性质、妊娠期糖尿病、脐带附着情况均与双胎出生体重存在相关性(相应的P值分别为0.021、0.000、0.000、0.012、0.017),而妊娠期高血压疾病、产次以及胎儿是否为同性别与双胎出生体重无相关性(P＞0.05).非条件Logistic回归分析显示,妊娠期高血压疾病和单绒毛膜性质是不同一性双胎的高危因素,其OR值(95%CI)分别为2.600(1.566～4.316)、1.833(1.010～3.582).将孕妇年龄分为4个阶段,即＜25岁组(69例)、～30岁组(312例)、～35岁组(325例)、高龄组(≥35岁)(128例),各组双胎的平均出生体重分别为:(2205±483)g、(2347±406)g、(2381±439)g和(2352±455)g,除～35岁组与高龄组比较,双胎平均出生体重差异无统计学意义外(P＞0.05),其他各组两两比较,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).将新生儿性别分类后发现:不同性别双胎中男胎(270例)的平均出生体重为(2416±514)g,同性别男胎292例,平均出生体重(2381±428)g,不同性别双胎中女胎270例,同性别女胎272例,平均出生体重分别为(2322±488)g和(2301±418)g.除了不同性别双胎中男胎的出生体重与同性别男胎的体重比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)外,其他各组两两比较,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 双胎妊娠如孕妇年龄小于25岁、单绒毛膜性质、脐带边缘或帆状附着或女性双胎,则双胎胎儿的出生体重明显下降;如为辅助生殖技术后妊娠或合并妊娠期糖尿病,则双胎胎儿的出生体重增加.双胎妊娠合并妊娠期高血压疾病或单绒毛膜性质时,应警惕双胎不同一性的发生.     

Relationships Between Maternal Smoking,Placental Pathology,and Fetal Growth

Placental and feto-neonatal characteristics were compared between 199 smokers and 231 non-smokers. Controlling for such maternal confounders as maternal age, gestational age, race, socioeconomic status drug and/or ethanol abuse, and lack of prenatal care, maternal smoking was strongly related to decreased birth weight (mean difference 415 grams), length, head circumference, and elevated cord hematocrit, indicating early and late components of the growth-inhibiting effects of smoking. These relationships persisted when growth measures were adjusted for effects of placental weight, presence of placental infarction, or other specific placental lesions.     

Improved perinatal survival of monoamniotic twins with intensive inpatient monitoring

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of routine hospitalization for fetal monitoring on the perinatal survival and neonatal morbidity of monoamniotic twins. STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of 96 monoamniotic twin gestations from 11 university and private perinatal practices. Overall mortality rates were calculated. The risk of intrauterine fetal death and neonatal morbidity was compared among women who were observed as inpatients versus outpatients. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate from enrollment was 19.8% (mean gestational age at enrollment, 17.4 weeks). The perinatal mortality and corrected perinatal mortality rates were 15.4% and 12.6%, respectively. Eighty-seven women had both twins who were surviving at 24 weeks of gestation; 43 women were admitted electively for inpatient surveillance at a median gestational age of 26.5 weeks; the remainder of the women were followed as outpatients and admitted only for routine obstetric indications (median gestational age, 30.1 weeks). No intrauterine fetal deaths occurred in any hospitalized patient. The risk of intrauterine fetal death in women who were followed as outpatients was 14.8% (13/88) versus 0 for women who were followed as inpatients (P < .001). There also were statistically significant improvements in birth weight, gestational age at delivery, and neonatal morbidity for women who were followed as inpatients. CONCLUSION: We observed improved neonatal survival and decreased perinatal morbidity among women who were admitted electively for inpatient fetal monitoring.     

妊娠期孕妇瘦素水平与胎儿体重的关系

目的:研究孕期血清瘦素(LEP)水平变化与胎儿LEP水平、胎儿体重的关系,以及孕妇年龄、身高、体重及胎儿性别等对母血与胎儿LEP水平的影响。方法:选择38例孕妇为研究对象,留取不同孕期孕妇静脉血及分娩时胎儿脐静脉血,并测定新生儿出生体重,对资料进行统计分析。结果:①母体血清LEP水平随着妊娠进展呈递增趋势,孕36周后母体血清LEP水平高于分娩时胎儿脐静脉血LEP水平,差异有高度统计学意义(P<0.01);②男婴和女婴的母体各孕周血清LEP水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),男婴的脐静脉血LEP水平低于女婴,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);③孕16～18周母体血清LEP水平与孕妇体重指数(BMI)正相关(P<0.05);分娩时胎儿脐静脉血LEP水平与孕妇体重指数和新生儿体重均呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论:孕妇血清瘦素水平对胎儿体重没有影响,检测胎儿脐静脉血LEP水平,可以作为预测胎儿体重状况的指标之一。     

Genetic factors and fetal growth sex constitution and birthweight in twins

Fetal growth is considered a multifactorially-influenced characteristic. Genetic factors were found to play the main role in fetal growth determination, and it is the polygenic inheritance. The paper reviews the birthweights of 360 unlike-sexed two-egg twins, born at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine in Beograd, from January 1, 1970 through June 30, 1984. The mean birthweight differences between the male (2954.94 +/- 704.28 g) and female (2313.19 +/- 651.32 g) fetuses, amounted to 141.75 g. The difference is highly significant (P less than 0.01); variation coefficient shows that the examined groups were homogenous (VC was below 30%). The results were discussed from the genetic point of view, and particularly from the point of view of sex constitution, with special respect to the effect of Y chromosome on fetal growth. It has been known that human somatic development, body weight, bone maturation and teeth development are influenced by variety of factors. In addition to nutritional and other factors of the external environment, genetic and humoral factors are leading. The fact that fetuses with XY male constitution are heavier at birth than female fetuses with XX constitution, made us consider the correlation between genotype-phenotype, and the mentioned characteristics. This study was aimed at finding out the role of genetic factors in fetal growth, with respect to sex constitution, particularly to chromosome effect on fetal growth in unlike-sexed two-egg twins.     

提示单绒毛膜双胎选择性生长受限胎儿预后不良的超声征象

目的 探讨提示单绒毛膜双胎合并一胎选择性生长受限(selective fetal growth restriction,sFGR)胎儿宫内死亡或新生儿期死亡的超声征象. 方法 研究对象为2005年1月至2010年5月在本院行产前超声检查发现的单绒毛膜双胎合并一胎sFGR病例,均采用期待疗法并随访分娩结局.记录以下超声指标:sFGR胎儿脐动脉血流频谱异常、大胎羊水过多、sFGR胎儿羊水过少、双胎估计胎儿体重的差异百分数、脐带帆状附着及诊断孕周.应用Logistic回归分析各超声指标与sFGR胎儿发生死亡的相关性. 结果 共诊断51例单绒毛膜双胎合并一胎sFGR,其中11例(21.6％)sFGR胎儿死亡,包括4例官内死亡和7例新生儿期死亡;双胎均死亡3例(5.9％).Logistic回归分析发现,sFGR胎儿出现羊水过少(OR=22.80,95％CI:3.58～145.31,P=0.001)和脐动脉血流频谱异常(OR=6.51,95％CI:1.16～36.53,P=0.033)是sFGR胎儿官内死亡或新生儿期死亡的独立危险因素. 结论 sFGR胎儿脐动脉舒张末期血流频谱异常和羊水过少均提示预后不良.     

Fetal growth restriction in twins

Twin pregnancies are more likely to be affected by fetal growth restriction (FGR), preterm birth and perinatal loss. The management of fetal growth restriction in multiple pregnancy, particularly where only one fetus is affected is complicated by the need to consider the interests of both twins. Selective growth restriction in monochorionic (MC) twins is a pathophysiological process distinct from FGR in dichorionic (DC) pregnancies and management demands an understanding of the monochorionic placental structure and interdependent fetal circulations. The introduction of fetal therapy has introduced a range of potential interventions for the antenatal management of sFGR including selective fetal reduction and laser photocoagulation of the placental communicating vessels. This review summarizes up to date evidence on diagnosis, classification and management of sFGR and considers research directions likely to be of benefit in the future.     

Comparison of the accuracy of INTERGROWTH-21 formula with other ultrasound formulae in fetal weight estimation

Objective

A new ultrasound formula for fetal weight estimation was proposed from the INTERGROWTH-21 project in 2017. There is no comparison of its accuracy with other ultrasound formulae. This study aims to compare the accuracy of INTERGROWTH-21 formula in fetal weight estimation with the traditional Hadlock1 and Shepard formula.

Growth curves for twins in Slovenia

Abnormalities of fetal growth are more common in twins. We introduce the growth curves for monitoring fetal growth in twin pregnancies in Slovenia. Slovenian National Perinatal Information System for the period between 2002 and 2010 was used to calculate birth weight percentiles for all live born twins for each week from 22nd to 40th week. The calculated percentiles of birth weight for all live-born twins in Slovenia served as the basis for drawing 'growth' curves. The calculated growth curves for twins will help accurately diagnose small or large twin fetuses for their gestational age in the native central European population.     

超声测量胎儿腹围预测巨大胎儿

目的　探讨产前预测新生儿出生体重的相关因素及超声测量胎儿腹围能否预测巨大胎儿。　方法　前瞻性选择 148例宫高 腹围≥ 135 cm的足月单胎已临产的孕妇 ,超声测量其胎儿双顶径、腹围、股骨长度 ,皮尺测量孕妇宫高、腹围 ,核对孕龄 ,分析这些因素与新生儿出生体重的相关性 ;按新生儿体重将这些孕妇分为巨大儿组和非巨大儿组 ,比较两组的资料 ;分析胎儿腹围与巨大儿的特定关系。　结果　多因素逐步回归分析显示单一胎儿腹围是预测胎儿体重的最好参数 ,优于胎儿腹围与股骨长的联合应用。其与胎儿体重呈直线正相关 ,r=0 .85。胎儿腹围≥ 36 cm可以预测 82 %的巨大儿 ,巨大儿组剖宫产率 70 .2 %。　结论　胎儿腹围与胎儿体重呈高度直线正相关 ,是预测胎儿体重的较好参数。在产前怀疑有巨大儿的可能时 ,超声测量胎儿腹围有助于其诊断。     

三胎与单胎妊娠胎儿生长发育的比较

目的　探讨三胎妊娠的胎儿发育规律及平均孕周的特点。方法　采用超声测量三胎妊娠的胎儿与单胎妊娠胎儿不同孕周的双顶径、股骨长 ,比较三胎妊娠胎儿的发育状况、出生体重及分娩孕周与单胎妊娠胎儿的差异值。结果　三胎妊娠的胎儿从孕 2 8周起 ,双顶径及股骨长的平均值低于单胎妊娠胎儿 (差异均值分别为 2 1mm和 3 1mm ,P <0 0 1)。三胎妊娠的新生儿出生体重明显低于单胎妊娠的新生儿 (P <0 0 1)。 3 6 2 %的三胎妊娠的新生儿出生体重低于同孕周的第十百分位数 ;95 7%的三胎妊娠胎儿在 3 6周之前分娩 ,平均分娩孕周数为 (3 4 0± 1 6)周 ,较单胎妊娠胎儿的 (3 9 0± 1 6)周明显提前。结论　三胎妊娠胎儿有着与单胎妊娠胎儿不同的发育规律 ,其平均孕周较单胎妊娠明显缩短 ,新生儿出生体重明显降低     

Maternal age and the size of White, Black, Hispanic, and mixed infants

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the interaction between maternal age and race in the prediction of infant size at birth. METHODS: Birth certificate data was used to study the relationship between maternal age, race/ethnicity, and the size of term, singleton infants born to 91,061 healthy, non-smoking, non-substance using, primigravidas. RESULTS: Maternal race/ethnicity (Black race: OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.49-2.56; Hispanic ethnicity: OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.19-1.61) and the interaction term, maternal age x race/ethnicity (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.11) predicted small-for-gestational age (SGA) birth. The strength of the association between Black race and SGA delivery increased and the strength of the association between Hispanic ethnicity and SGA delivery decreased with age (P < 0.001 for trend). Thus, Black and Hispanic teenagers were more likely to have SGA babies than White teenagers (1.7% and 1.6%, respectively compared to 1.2%; P = 0.003). However, Black women who postponed childbearing until their mid-twenties were more likely to have SGA babies than their Hispanic and White counterparts (2.6% compared to 1.2%, and 1.0%, respectively; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that acquired maternal characteristic(s) cause the reproductive health of Black primigravidas to deteriorate and Hispanic primigravidas to improve with age.     

Birth weight references for triplets

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to formulate growth references that reflect triplet fetal and neonatal populations at each gestational age by combining serial ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weights and measured birth weights. STUDY DESIGN: This historical cohort study was based on 188 pregnancies of live-born triplets of > or =23 weeks' gestation. Ultrasonographic fetal weight measures were modeled as a function of gestational age for each infant. Linear regression models were used to fit the data, and weight percentiles were generated. RESULTS: Well-grown triplets fell substantially below singletons by 30 weeks and twins after 34 weeks. Trichorionic vs monochorionic or dichorionic placentation resulted in 27% higher growth at the 10th %ile, 5% higher growth at the 50th %ile, and 4% higher growth at the 90th %ile by 34 weeks. CONCLUSION: The overall pattern of fetal growth for well-grown triplets does not differ from that of singletons and twins until late gestation, confirming that, in utero, well-grown children have similar growth potentials, regardless of plurality.     

脂联素和内脂素与胎儿生长发育的关系

目的 探讨脂肪因子--脂联素和内脂素与胎儿生长发育的关系.方法 收集2007年6月至12月北京军区总医院妇产科住院分娩的产妇42例,其中分娩胎儿生长受限(FGR)儿14例(FGR组),分娩巨大儿14例(巨大儿组),分娩出生体重正常新生儿14例(对照组).采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA,双抗体夹心法)检测3组产妇血和新生儿脐血中的脂联素和内脂素的水平,并分析新生儿脐血中脂联素和内脂素水平与产妇血中水平的相关性.结果 (1)FGR组产妇血中内脂素水平为(41.4±5.5)μ/L,明显高于对照组的(34.7±4.9)μ/L和巨大儿组的(37.3±4.4)μ/L,分别比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01,P<0.05);巨大儿组产妇血中脂联索水平为(4.1±1.3)mg/L,显著低于对照组的(6.6±1.5)mg/L和FGR组的(6.4±1.3)mg/L,分别比较,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.01).(2)FGR组新生儿脐血中内脂素水平为(58.1±7.6)μ/L,明显高于对照组的(42.6±7.8)μ/L和巨大儿组的(48.5±9.1)μ/L,分别比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01,P<0.05);巨大儿组新生儿脐血中脂联素水平为(6.5±1.3)mg/L,低于对照组的(7.7±1.5)mg/L和FGR组的(7.7±1.0)mg/L,分别比较,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05).(3)脐血中内脂素水平高于产妇血中的水平,两者呈显著正相关关系(r=0.720,P<0.01);脐血中脂联素水平略高于产妇血中的水平,两者无明显相关性(r=0.301,P>0.05).结论 内脂索水平的升高可能与FGR的发生有关,脂联素水平的降低可能与巨大儿的发生有关.