Ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins

<p><strong>Introduction</strong></p> Large birthweight discrepancy has been identified as a risk factor for perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancies. However, it remains unclear whether such discordance can be predicted by various biological indices with specific...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lei, T, Zheng, J, Papageorghiou, AT, Feng, J-L, Lin, M-F, Zhang, F, Xie, H-N
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021
_version_ 1797086177463894016
author Lei, T
Zheng, J
Papageorghiou, AT
Feng, J-L
Lin, M-F
Zhang, F
Xie, H-N
author_facet Lei, T
Zheng, J
Papageorghiou, AT
Feng, J-L
Lin, M-F
Zhang, F
Xie, H-N
author_sort Lei, T
collection OXFORD
description <p><strong>Introduction</strong></p> Large birthweight discrepancy has been identified as a risk factor for perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancies. However, it remains unclear whether such discordance can be predicted by various biological indices with specific cut-off values, and how these depend on the gestational age. We aimed to determine the most effective way to predict large birthweight discordance at various gestational ages. <p><strong>Material and methods</strong></p> A retrospective cohort study of dichorionic twins, live-born between 2008 and 2018, was conducted. Discordances in biparietal diameter, head circumference, humerus and femur length, abdominal circumference, and estimated fetal weight were calculated—([larger twin − smaller twin] / larger twin) × 100%—and compared between those with and without a large birthweight discordance (≥20%). Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to analyze the predictive characteristics of each parameter. <p><strong>Results</strong></p> Of 598 dichorionic twin pregnancies included, 83 (13.9%) had a birthweight discordance ≥20%. Group differences in biparietal diameter and head circumference discordance were the earliest to emerge (before 20 weeks of gestation), but became insignificant after 36 weeks, followed by humerus and femur length, estimated fetal weight discordance (after 20 weeks), and abdominal circumference discordance (after 28 weeks). The best predictors (with cut-off values) were discordance in biparietal diameter ≥7.8% at <20 weeks, head circumference ≥4.5% at 20-23+6 weeks, humerus length ≥4.5% at 24-27+6 weeks, and estimated fetal weight discordance (≥11.6% at 28-31+6 weeks, ≥10.5% at 32-35+6 weeks, and ≥15.0% ≥36 weeks), with sensitivity and specificity of 52%-77% and 69%-82%, respectively. <p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p> Different predictors and cut-off values may be useful for predicting large inter-twin birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins at different gestational ages. It is more accurate to use biparietal diameter and head circumference discordance in the early second trimester, humerus length discordance in the late second trimester, and estimated fetal weight discordance in the third trimester.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T02:18:21Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:a30bf0fa-837f-42d0-aff5-b2a6afed4c3d
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T02:18:21Z
publishDate 2021
publisher Wiley
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:a30bf0fa-837f-42d0-aff5-b2a6afed4c3d2022-03-27T02:24:07ZUltrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twinsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:a30bf0fa-837f-42d0-aff5-b2a6afed4c3dEnglishSymplectic ElementsWiley2021Lei, TZheng, JPapageorghiou, ATFeng, J-LLin, M-FZhang, FXie, H-N<p><strong>Introduction</strong></p> Large birthweight discrepancy has been identified as a risk factor for perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancies. However, it remains unclear whether such discordance can be predicted by various biological indices with specific cut-off values, and how these depend on the gestational age. We aimed to determine the most effective way to predict large birthweight discordance at various gestational ages. <p><strong>Material and methods</strong></p> A retrospective cohort study of dichorionic twins, live-born between 2008 and 2018, was conducted. Discordances in biparietal diameter, head circumference, humerus and femur length, abdominal circumference, and estimated fetal weight were calculated—([larger twin − smaller twin] / larger twin) × 100%—and compared between those with and without a large birthweight discordance (≥20%). Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to analyze the predictive characteristics of each parameter. <p><strong>Results</strong></p> Of 598 dichorionic twin pregnancies included, 83 (13.9%) had a birthweight discordance ≥20%. Group differences in biparietal diameter and head circumference discordance were the earliest to emerge (before 20 weeks of gestation), but became insignificant after 36 weeks, followed by humerus and femur length, estimated fetal weight discordance (after 20 weeks), and abdominal circumference discordance (after 28 weeks). The best predictors (with cut-off values) were discordance in biparietal diameter ≥7.8% at <20 weeks, head circumference ≥4.5% at 20-23+6 weeks, humerus length ≥4.5% at 24-27+6 weeks, and estimated fetal weight discordance (≥11.6% at 28-31+6 weeks, ≥10.5% at 32-35+6 weeks, and ≥15.0% ≥36 weeks), with sensitivity and specificity of 52%-77% and 69%-82%, respectively. <p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p> Different predictors and cut-off values may be useful for predicting large inter-twin birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins at different gestational ages. It is more accurate to use biparietal diameter and head circumference discordance in the early second trimester, humerus length discordance in the late second trimester, and estimated fetal weight discordance in the third trimester.
spellingShingle Lei, T
Zheng, J
Papageorghiou, AT
Feng, J-L
Lin, M-F
Zhang, F
Xie, H-N
Ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins
title Ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins
title_full Ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins
title_fullStr Ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins
title_full_unstemmed Ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins
title_short Ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins
title_sort ultrasound in the prediction of birthweight discordance in dichorionic twins
work_keys_str_mv AT leit ultrasoundinthepredictionofbirthweightdiscordanceindichorionictwins
AT zhengj ultrasoundinthepredictionofbirthweightdiscordanceindichorionictwins
AT papageorghiouat ultrasoundinthepredictionofbirthweightdiscordanceindichorionictwins
AT fengjl ultrasoundinthepredictionofbirthweightdiscordanceindichorionictwins
AT linmf ultrasoundinthepredictionofbirthweightdiscordanceindichorionictwins
AT zhangf ultrasoundinthepredictionofbirthweightdiscordanceindichorionictwins
AT xiehn ultrasoundinthepredictionofbirthweightdiscordanceindichorionictwins