A comparison of pregnancy outcome between high-order multiple and twin pregnancies: matched-pair retrospective study

H Lam, PC Ho
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE. To compare the pregnancy outcome between high-order multiple and twin pregnancies. DESIGN. Matched-pair retrospective analysis.

SETTING. University teaching hospital, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. Patient records from 38 high-order multiple pregnancies that were delivered over a period of 15 years, and those from matched twin pregnancies.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

RESULTS. The incidence of high-order multiple pregnancies increased over the study period in association with the more frequent practice of ovulation induction and other assisted reproductive techniques. High-order multiple pregnancies were associated with a higher incidence of maternal complications and a significantly higher perinatal mortality rate than were twin pregnancies.

CONCLUSION. Efforts should be made to prevent multiple pregnancies by carefully monitoring ovulation treatment and by limiting the number of embryos transferred.

Hong Kong Med J 1999;5:16-20

Key words: Comparative study; Fertilization in vitro; Ovulation induction; Pregnancy, multiple; Pregnancy outcome