Neonatal neurologic characteristics of preterm twin infants

Abstract

The study objectives were to determine the incidence, time of onset, and clinical characteristics of neonatal neurologic injury in preterm twin infants <1,250 gm birth weight. Forty-one twin infants of birth weight 929 gm ± 160 and 27.3 ± 1.96 weeks gestation were evaluated and compared to 225 singleton infants <1,250 gm. Seventeen infants were monozygotic and 24 dizygotic. Six of the 9 monozygotic pregnancies were complicated by the polyhydramnios/oligohydramnios syndrome; a weight discordancy of >20% was observed in 8 of the monozygotic twin sets and polycythemia (hematocrit >65%) in 3 infants. Nine (22%) of the 41 infants died. Periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PV-IVH) developed in 11 (27%) of 41 infants and was severe in 9 (22%) infants. IVH was noted on day 1 (n = 2), day 2 (n = 3), and day 3 (n = 6). IVH developed in 69 (30%) of the 225 singletons and was severe in 28 (12%) infants. Twin infants were more likely to have been delivered via cesarean section, to have required intubation in the delivery room, and to have been administered surfactant as compared with singletons ( P < .01). It was concluded that pretern twin infants <1,250 gm are at high risk for developing severe IVH, and that the onset of IVH was within the first 3 postnatal days in all cases.