[Incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in premature twins].
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a syndrome of respiratory malfunction occurring in pre-term newborns. Twin pregnancy is a risk factor for the occurrence of RDS. The objective of our study is to analyse RDS incidence in pre-term twins and to determine the mortality in this group of newborns compared to single pregnancy pre-term babies. The study is based on the data collected in Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Neonatology Department in the year 1999. RDS was diagnosed on the basis of clinical status and radiology findings. In the course of the test period, 544 pre-terms were born, 91 (16.7%) of them being from twin pregnancies. RDS developed in 132 newborns from single pregnancies (29.1%), in 28 newborns from twin pregnancies with RDS developed in both twins (30.7%) and in 19 babies whose twin siblings did not have RDS. If we consider gestation age, RDS developed in 28.6% twins born between 32nd and 36th gestation week and in 20.45% single newborns of the same age. The results were similar in younger gestation age. Mortality rate in the tested group was 17.8% and 9% in the control group. These results lead us to the conclusion that pre-term newborns from twin pregnancies tend to develop RDS, a more difficult clinical status, have more complications and higher mortality rate than the newborns from single pregnancies.