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Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik
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Walter de Gruyter
Schattauer
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Mirit Shoshani, Debbie J. Rhea, Louis G. Keith, Isaac Blickstein

Comparison between singleton- and triplet-specific “growth” curves to detect growth restricted triplet infants

Keywords: Birth weight, IUGR, ponderal index, SGA, triplets

Objective: To evaluate whether triplet- or singleton-specific growth standards should be used to define the growth restricted triplet fetus/neonate.

Study design: We retrospectively compared the predictive values of singleton vs. triplet-specific “growth” standards using the neonatal ponderal index as reference for growth restriction.

Results: A ponderal index <1 SD from the mean was found in 356 (14.4%) of 2477 triplet infants. A total of 686 (27.7%) infants were small for gestational age (SGA) by singleton standards, but only 168 (6.8%) by triplet standards. After 31 weeks' gestation, triplet standards are significantly better associated with a low ponderal index (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1, 3.4 at 32 weeks to OR 4.1, 95% CI 2.8, 6.3 at 36–37 weeks), resulting in better positive predictive value and higher specificity of triplet standards in predicting a low ponderal index.

Conclusion: Triplet birth weight standards are better than singleton standards at >31 but not at ≤31 weeks' gestation in predicting a low neonatal ponderal index.

Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 03/2007
Pages: - - -

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