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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Aug;27(7):537-42.
doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1248940. Epub 2010 Feb 19.

Neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies delivered moderately preterm, late preterm, and term

Jerrie S Refuerzo  1 , Valerija Momirova, Alan M Peaceman, Anthony Sciscione, Dwight J Rouse, Steve N Caritis, Catherine Y Spong, Michael W Varner, Fergal D Malone, Jay D Iams, Brian M Mercer, John M Thorp Jr, Yoram Sorokin, Marshall W Carpenter, Julie Lo, Margaret Harper; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies delivered moderately preterm, late preterm, and term

Jerrie S Refuerzo et al. Am J Perinatol. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

We compared neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies following moderately preterm birth (MPTB), late preterm birth (LPTB), and term birth. A secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of multiple gestations was conducted. MPTB was defined as delivery between 32 (0)/(7) and 33 (6)/(7) weeks and LPTB between 34 (0)/(7) and 36 (6)/(7) weeks. Primary outcome was a neonatal outcome composite consisting of one or more of the following: neonatal death, respiratory distress syndrome, early onset culture-proven sepsis, stage 2 or 3 necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, pneumonia, or severe retinopathy of prematurity. Among 552 twin pregnancies, the MPTB rate was 14.5%, LPTB 49.8%, and term birth rate 35.7%. The rate of the primary outcome was different between groups: 30.0% for MPTB, 12.8% for LPTB, 0.5% for term birth ( P < 0.001). Compared with term neonates, the primary neonatal outcome composite was increased following MPTB (relative risk [RR] 58.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.3 to 1693.0) and LPTB (RR 24.9; 95% CI 4.8 to 732.2). Twin pregnancies born moderately and late preterm encounter higher rates of neonatal morbidities compared with twins born at term.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportion of twin pregnancies delivering moderately preterm, late preterm and at term.
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