BACKGROUND The risk of spontaneous first trimester abortion is estimated to be between 10 and 20%. Although it is common knowledge that the incidence of abortion decreases as pregnancy progresses, exact data in relation to the duration of pregnancy are scarce. METHODS We reviewed 1597 clinical IVF/ICSI pregnancies with known outcome and tabulated the number of miscarriages or fetal demise per...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of fetal cells in the maternal blood of multifetal pregnancies and compare this figure with singleton pregnancies. METHODS We obtained maternal blood from 31 pregnancies with 2-6 fetuses at 11-16 weeks gestation and from 50 normal singleton controls (11-14 weeks gestation). Fetal erythroblasts were isolated from maternal blood us...

The risk of preterm delivery (< 37 weeks of gestation) is approximately nine times higher in women with multifetal pregnancies than in women with singleton pregnancies. However, it is possible that the risk will vary according to gestational week. To assess the risk of premature birth within 1 week by gestational age among multifetal pregnancies and compare the estimated risk with that of singl...

BACKGROUND Gestational thrombocytopenia is more likely to occur in twin than singleton pregnancies. However, it is unclear whether platelets are more reactive in twin than singleton pregnancies. METHODS Changes in spontaneous platelet aggregation and concomitant fall in platelet count were examined over 90min after blood sampling in 171 and 52 citrated whole blood (CWB) samples from 59 and 17...

OBJECTIVE We compared the performance of the 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) in singleton versus twin pregnancies and investigated the need for adjusting GCT cutoff values for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in twin pregnancies among Korean women. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed in women who underwent GCT at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation and delivered in our department be...

BACKGROUND The risk of pre-eclampsia (PE) increases in twin pregnancies, especially when assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are used. The aim of this study was to assess angiogenic/anti-angiogenic factors in maternal serum in the first trimester of twin pregnancies and establish if the mode of conception influences angiogenic status. METHODS This prospective study enrolled women with tw...

Background: Prediction of adverse perinatal and postnatal outcomes could be possible by using ultrasound Doppler evaluation, however there are some controversies regarding this issue in the literature. The goal of present study was to evaluate predictive value of Doppler indices in single and twin pregnancies during second trimester. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted i...

OBJECTIVE To determine risk of Down syndrome (DS) in multiple relative to singleton pregnancies, and compare prenatal diagnosis rates and pregnancy outcome. DESIGN Population-based prevalence study based on EUROCAT congenital anomaly registries. SETTING Eight European countries. POPULATION 14.8 million births 1990-2009; 2.89% multiple births. METHODS DS cases included livebirths, fetal ...

A study was conducted aimed at establishing a range of plasma concentrations of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin that might predict ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer. From May 1984 to February 1986, 161 consecutive pregnancies at the Monash University in vitro fertilisation unit were analysed by determining plasma beta human chorionic gonadotrop...

OBJECTIVE Changes in the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and the plasma renin activity (PRA) have not been extensively studied in women with twin pregnancies. METHODS The PAC and PRA levels were determined during the second and third trimesters and on postpartum day 3 in 14 normotensive women with twin pregnancies and 80 normotensive and 7 preeclamptic women with singleton pregnancies....