Neurodesarrollo en trillizos a los 2 años de vida de acuerdo al método de embarazo

Background

Multiple pregnancies, prematurity, low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction are important risk factors for adverse neurodevelopmental throughout the world.

Material and methods

An observational, retrospective, and analytical study was conducted on a cohort of triplets born by different pregnancy methods. They were assessed using the Mayo Clinic neurological assessment, neurobehavioural evaluation, Bayley psychomotor assessment, human communication, and hearing and language at 2 years of life.

Results

A total of 82 sets of triplets were included in the analysis. In the neurological examination at two years, behavioural problems stand out, being 10.6% for spontaneous pregnancies. In the neurobehavioural assessment, 16% presented with a mild delay, 3.4% moderate, and severe delay only in 0.8%. The percentage for hearing loss in general was low, being superficial in one patient, with mild hearing loss in one, and another with profound hearing loss. The language for the entire sample was at a mean of 21.2 months. For the Bayley scale, the mean mental index was 83.6, and for the psychomotor index it was 82.7.

Conclusions

There were no statistical differences in relation to neurodevelopment and pregnancy methods. The only differences were found in the Bayley assessment for those born by ovulation inducers. The results of neurodevelopment in general were favourable. Cerebral palsy only occurred in 1.2%, with behavioural problems predominating in 6.8%.