Objective: We aimed to evaluate rates of delivery and clinical manifestations of preterm severe preeclampsia in singleton and twin gestations.
Study design: This retrospective cohort study included 86 765 deliveries from 2000 to 2009, including 3244 twins. Rates of delivery for severe preeclampsia among infants born 24 to 31+6, and 32 to 36+6 weeks gestation were calculated, and diagnostic criteria were compared.
Result: Re-term severe preeclampsia was more common in twin pregnancies (2.4% vs 0.4%, P<0.001, relative risk 5.70 (95% confidence interval 4.47 to 7.26)). This was also true for deliveries from 24 to 31+6 (0.8% vs 0.2%, P<0.001) and 32 to 36+6 weeks (1.7% vs 0.3%, P<0.001). Diagnostic criteria and disease manifestation including hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelet count syndrome, abruption and growth restriction were similar between groups.
Conclusion: Twin pregnancies are significantly more likely than singletons to be delivered preterm for severe preeclampsia. Diagnostic criteria and disease manifestation were similar in singletons and twins, at all gestational ages.