A patient wrongly referred as a possible victim of thalidomide showed the three classical cardinal features of the EEC syndrome, plus severe mental retardation, an unusual finding in this condition. His twin brother was similarly affected, and died at four months of age due to complications caused by the malformations. Their normal parents were first cousins. The concordance of the manifestation in the twins and the parents' consanguinity suggest that they had the recessive form of the EEC syndrome.

A retrospective review of triplets delivered at a Boston perinatal center from 1977 to 1986 was performed. Comparison was made between this group (study group) and previously published data on triplets in our institution (control group). Since 1977 there was a more liberal use of abdominal delivery. Cesarean sections (CS) of all triplets with malpresentation was our protocol. Of the 15 sets of triplet pregnancies in the study group, 11 were delivered by CS and 4 by vaginal delivery, vs only 1 CS in the control group wich consisted also of 15 triplets. The corrected mortality rate in the study group was lower than in the control group (2.6% vs 7.1%) but did not reach statistical significance. Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were significantly higher in the study group (P < 0.002). Apgar scores for the third triplet were also higher in the study group (P < 0.05). In comparing the combined mortality and morbidity between the study group and the control group, no difference was found in the first triplet, but those of the second and third triplets were significantly lower in the study group. Of interest is the finding that the combined mortality and morbidity was not different statistically among the first, second, and third triplets in the study group, while in the control group an increase from the first to the third triplet was noted (21%, 31%, and 43%, respectively). A more liberal approach toward abdominal delivery of pregnancies of higher fetal number is advocated.