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Comparison of different types of twin pregnancies in terms of obstetric and perinatal outcomes: association of vanished twins with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism(s)

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics volume 35, pages 2149–2154 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Vanished twin (VT) has been associated with poor perinatal outcomes. Our research aimed to investigate the outcomes of pregnancies with vanished twin and its possible association with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms.

Methods

This study consisted of 30 of 38 VT pregnancies (group 1, VT group), 109 singletons (group 2), 70 spontaneous twins (group 3), and 101 in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) twins (group 4).

Results

Most patients in group 1 (28/30) were tested for MTHFR genes (C677T or A1298C polymorphisms). Eight of the 38 pregnancies with VT (21.1%) resulted in miscarriage. The prevalence of “2 or more pregnancy losses” in the “obstetric history” in group 1 was higher (23.3%) than those in the other groups (p = 0.007, χ2 = 17.8). The allelic frequencies of MTHFR 677 and MTHFR 1298 in group 1 were 0.268 and 0.429, respectively (higher than those in healthy population). The median birthweights in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 2940, 3200, 2300, and 2095 g, respectively. The prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome was significantly higher in the IVF/ICSI twin pregnancy group (p < 0.001, χ2 = 21.2). Early pregnancy loss and the presence of “2 or more miscarriages” in the obstetric history of pregnancies with VT were more frequent.

Conclusion

The coincidence of VT and MTHFR polymorphisms might play an incidental or factual role in this connection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey

    Murat Aykut Ozek, Gokcen Orgul & M. Sinan Beksac

  2. Gazi University School of Medicine, 06500, Besevler-Ankara, Turkey

    Murat Aykut Ozek

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey

    Ergun Karaagaoglu

  4. Division of Hematology Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey

    Fatma Gumruk

  5. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey

    Murat Yurdakök

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  1. Murat Aykut Ozek
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Ozek, M.A., Karaagaoglu, E., Orgul, G. et al. Comparison of different types of twin pregnancies in terms of obstetric and perinatal outcomes: association of vanished twins with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism(s). J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 2149–2154 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1346-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1346-7

Keywords

  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Vanished twin
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism
  • Miscarriage