Increased risk of birth defects among children from multiple births

Abstract

Overall, children from multiple births have an increased risk of birth defects.

Risk of birth defects increased in multiple births

“…A recent report from England showed that the rate of congenital anomalies in twins was 405.8 per 10,000 and in singletons was 238.2 per 10,000 (relative risk, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-2.0) (Glinianaia et al, 2008). A report from the United States showed that the relative risk of the total birth defect rate was 1.9 for twins, 2.7 for triplets, and 4.6 for quadruplet births or higher compared with singletons (Li et al, 2003). Our results are consistent with these earlier studies, showing that the total birth defect rate was higher in multiple births.…”

“…Many studies have shown that multiple births carry a high risk of birth defects (Doyle et al, 1990;Mastroiacovo et al, 1999;Li et al, 2003;Tang et al, 2006;Glinianaia et al, 2008). A recent report from England showed that the rate of congenital anomalies in twins was 405.8 per 10,000 and in singletons was 238.2 per 10,000 (relative risk, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-2.0) (Glinianaia et al, 2008).…”

“…Much attention has been paid to the association of multiple births with birth defects (Doyle et al, 1990;Mastroiacovo et al, 1999;Li et al, 2003;Tang et al, 2006;Glinianaia et al, 2008), but limited research on this topic has been done using study populations from China.…”

La ética y la bioética de la programación de la humanidad

“…La experiencia muestra que quedan, con demasiada frecuencia, sin transferir en esa irracional consideración de "sobrantes". Existe una reiterada recomendación internacional de evitar embarazos múltiples, reduciendo la estimulación ovárica y transfiriendo un solo embrión, puesto que la prematuridad y el bajo peso al nacer que presentan son las principales causas de malformaciones y de características adversas (yoon et al, 2005;Li et al, 2003). El incumplimiento, a veces, se "soluciona" con la reducción embrionaria, eliminando del útero de la mujer gestante el exceso de fetos en desarrollo.…”

What We Can Learn From Twins

“…Numerous investigators have suggested that twin gestation is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, including congenital heart disease. [3][4][5] In a large study of a California birth defects surveillance program, Hardin and colleagues 6 reported that the risk of congenital heart disease was significantly increased among twins for a variety of lesions. Lesions of the outflow tract had the strongest association with twin gestation.…”