• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.197-203
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare perinatal outcomes between in vitro fertilization (IVF) twins and naturally conceived twins born to women aged 35 years or older and to provide basic information for taking care of IVF twins born to women aged 35 years or older. Methods: We reviewed the records of perinatal and neonatal outcomes in 288 IVF twins and 220 naturally conceived twins born to women aged 35 years or older between January 2001 and December 2010 at CHA Bundang Medical Center. Results: No difference was observed in the maternal ages of mothers giving birth to IVF twins and those giving birth to naturally conceived twins. Gestational ages and birth weights of IVF twins were not different from those of naturally conceived twins. Various perinatal outcomes, including gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, placenta previa, premature amniotic membrane rupture, and need for a Cesarean section did not differ between the 2 groups. However, the 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores (P=0.019 and P=0.045, respectively) were different between the 2 groups. The incidence of early-onset sepsis was lower in the IVF twins than in the naturally conceived twins (P=0.02). However, the 2 groups did not show any difference in the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and other congenital anomalies. Conclusion: The perinatal outcomes in IVF twins born to women aged 35 years or older were not significantly different from those of naturally conceived twins.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.248-256
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• 2011

Purpose: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is the term used to designate a fetus that has not reached its growth potential. However it is difficult to make a distinction between infants who are constitutionally small and growth restricted small. In the present study, we focused on the clinical characteristics and the hematologic value in small for gestational age (SGA) infants and discussed how to distinguish intrauterine growth restricted infants from constitutionally small infants. Methods: SGA infants that did not have any other risk factors for IUGR in the medical record except maternal hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and born at the Seoul St Mary's Hospital and Yeouido St Mary`s Hospital from January 2007 to July 2010 were included. The frequency of IUGR is higher in the pregnancy with medical problem, and in preterm infants. Therefore, the data was categorized by maternal disease and gestational age. We assessed the clinical data and the hematologic value. Results: The leukocyte count and the platelet count were lower in the SGA with maternal HTN group and the preterm SGA group. There was no difference in the clinical data and the prognosis resulted from maternal HTN and maternal DM. However, the hematologic difference was not found in the categorization of the preterm SGA group as maternal diasease. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that it is possible the low leukocyte count and the low platelet count are the characteristic hematologic features in growth restricted small for gestational age infants.