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Congenital Malformations in Twins: A Population Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Bengt Källén
Bengt Källén*
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, University of Lund, Sweden
*
Department of Embryology, Biskopsgatan 7, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden

Abstract

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Malformations in twins were studied with the use of a Medical Birth Registry covering nearly all births in Sweden, 1973-1981. A total of 15,427 infants marked twins were identified and the malformation diagnoses were analyzed, comparing rates with the overall rates in the same data source. Problems in ascertainment and interpretation are discussed. No excess of neural tube defects was seen, but hydrocephaly was diagnosed more often in twins than in singletons. This can be partly, but not completely, explained by a higher rate of low-weight infants among twins. An excess was noticed in twins in the rates of cardiac defects, spine defects, gut atresias – notably esophageal and anal atresia – and severe kidney malformations. These are components of the so-called VACTERL syndrome – the last component (limb reductions) being more common in twins than in singletons, though statistical significance was not reached. A relation between monozygotic twinning and this syndrome is tentatively suggested.

Keywords

Congenital malformationsTwinsPopulation registryEpidemiology
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 35 , Issue 3-4 , October 1986 , pp. 167 - 178
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1986

References

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