Background: Fetal growth of twins differs from singletons. The objective was to assess the fetal growth in twin gestations in relation to singleton charts and customized twin charts, respectively, followed by a comparison of the frequency of neonatal complications in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) twins.
Methods: We performed an analysis of twin pregnancies with established chorionicity with particular emphasis on postnatal adverse outcomes in newborns classified as SGA. Neonatal birth weight was comparatively assessed using both singleton and twin growth charts with following percentile estimation. Using a statistical model, we established the prediction strength of neonatal complications in SGA twins for both methods.
Results: The dataset included 322 twin pairs (247 cases of dichorionic and 75 cases of monochorionic diamniotic gestations). Utilization of twin-specific normograms was less likely to label twins as SGA-nevertheless, this diagnosis strongly correlated with risk of observing adverse outcomes. Using a chart dedicated for twin pregnancies predicted newborn complications in the SGA group with higher sensitivity and had better positive predictive value regarding postnatal morbidity.
Conclusions: Estimating twin growth with customized charts provides better prognosis of undesirable neonatal events in the SGA group comparing to singleton nomograms and consequently might determine neonatal intensive care prenatal approach.
Keywords: fetal growth; fetal growth restriction; growth chart; small for gestational age; twin gestation.