The ponderal index in triplets: I. Relationship to small for gestational age neonates
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I. Blickstein
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the ponderal index in small for gestational age (SGA) triplets. Prospectively collected data from a cohort of triplets born at 28 to 37 weeks were analyzed. A low neonatal ponderal index (birth weight / [length] [3]) was defined as less than 1 SD below the mean (2.0), and SGA was considered as birth weight below the 10th percentile by triplet standards. We studied 2181 sets of triplets. Triplets delivered at <=33 weeks have a lower mean ponderal index compared with those delivered at >33 weeks. About 70% of SGA triplets do not have a low ponderal index, whereas 79.2% of infants with a low ponderal index are not SGA by triplet standards. Both the frequency of a low ponderal index and the frequency of infants with a low ponderal index who are not SGA decrease with increasing gestational age. We conclude that the majority of triplets with a low ponderal index might not be considered growth restricted, supporting the concept that reduced fetal weight of triplets is more likely a physiological rather than a pathological phenomenon.
Copyright © 2004 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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- Congress Calendar
- Roster of Perinatal Societies
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- The role of ultrasonography in recognizing the cause of fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly
- A kick from within – fetal movement counting and the cancelled progress in antenatal care
- DNA microarrays detect the expression of apoptosis-related genes in preeclamptic placentas
- Indicated labor induction with vaginal prostaglandin E2 increases the risk of cesarean section even in multiparous women with no previous cesarean section
- Cervical immunoglobulin A and altered vaginal flora in pregnant women with threatened preter delivery
- Multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroid therapy in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes
- Implication of cord blood myeloperoxidase but of soluble p-selectin levels in preterm deliveries
- Fetal and early postnatal magnetic resonance imaging – is there a difference?
- Bone turnover markers and bone strength during the first weeks of life in very low birth weight premature infants
- The ponderal index in triplets: I. Relationship to small for gestational age neonates
- The ponderal index in triplets: II. Gestational age-related patterns of neonatal weights and lengths
- The ponderal index in triplets: III. Association with birth weight discordance
- The ponderal index in triplets: IV. Relationship with maternal height
- Intratracheal albumin reduces interleukin-8 in tracheobronchial aspirates in piglets after meconium aspiration
- The pulmonary paradox in premature infants: in-utero infected lungs do better than those with accelerated maturation
- Congenital syphilis: unique clinical presentation in three preterm newborns
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome complicated by spontaneous mid-trimester uterine rupture
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension in a premature newborn after 16 hours of antenatal indomethacin exposure
- Congress Calendar
- Roster of Perinatal Societies
