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The Risk of Birth Defects in Dichorionic Twins Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Tomoyuki Kuwata
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
Shigeki Matsubara*
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japanmatsushi@jichi.ac.jp
Akihide Ohkuchi
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
Takashi Watanabe
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
Akio Izumi
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
Yoko Honma
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
Yukari Yada
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
Hiroaki Shibahara
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
Mitsuaki Suzuki
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi,Tochigi, Japan
*
*Address for correspondence: Shigeki Matsubara, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachimachi, Tochigi, 329-0498 Japan.

Abstract

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The purpose of this study was to examine whether dichorionic twins conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART; intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI], in vitro fertilization [IVF], gameteintrafallopian tube transfer [GIFT]) have a higher risk of birth defects compared to dichorionic twins conceived naturally. We reviewed the medical records of 406 mothers with dichorionic twin pregnancies, who received continuous antenatal care from ≤ 20 weeks of gestation and gave birth to infants after ≥ 24 weeks of gestation in our institute. Birth defects were diagnosed at the time of hospital discharge according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. Occurrence of birth defects was compared between twins conceived by ART and those conceived naturally using logistic regression analysis. Overall, 51 of 812 infants (51/812 = 6.2%) had birth defects. The incidence of birth defects in ART-conceived twins was significantly higher than that of naturally conceived twins with an odds ratio of 6.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1, 22.5), 3.7 (95% CI 1.2, 12.0), and 4.3 (95% CI 1.4, 14.3) for ICSI, IVF, and GIFT, respectively. The higher frequency of birth defects in ART-conceived twins was still significant after adjusting for higher maternal age in the ART group, with an adjusted odds ratio of 6.7 (95% CI 2.1, 21.9), 3.6 (95% CI 1.1, 11.5), and 3.7 (95% CI 1.2-11.8) for ICSI, IVF, and GIFT, respectively. Dichorionic twins conceived by ART, compared to dichorionic twins conceived naturally, had a much higher risk for birth defects diagnosed at hospital discharge.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004