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This study aims to compare how well two different types of fetal growth charts work in tracking the growth of twins during pregnancy. These charts help doctors decide if a fetus is growing normally. One type is commonly used for all pregnancies, while the other is specially designed for twin pregnancies. The study will enroll pregnant individuals carrying twins. Participants will be randomly assigned to have their care guided by either the traditional chart or the twin-specific chart. Researchers will compare outcomes such as birth weight, timing of delivery, and newborn health. The goal is to find out if using twin-specific charts can improve care and reduce unnecessary interventions.
Twin pregnancies are at increased risk for growth abnormalities and adverse perinatal outcomes. Despite physiological differences in fetal growth patterns between singleton and twin pregnancies, most clinical decisions in the United States still rely on singleton-based fetal growth charts. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluates whether using twin-specific fetal growth charts to guide clinical care results in better perinatal outcomes compared to using standard singleton-based charts.
Participants will be pregnant individuals with twin gestations receiving routine prenatal care at participating clinical sites. Eligible participants will be randomized to one of two groups: (1) management based on singleton growth charts or (2) management based on twin-specific charts. Both charts will be used to assess fetal growth during ultrasound visits, but only the chart assigned to the participant's group will inform clinical decision-making. Data will be collected on outcomes including birth weight, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) classification, gestational age at delivery, NICU admissions, and neonatal morbidity.
The study aims to determine whether using twin-specific fetal growth standards can reduce the overdiagnosis of growth restriction and the associated risks of iatrogenic preterm delivery and unnecessary interventions. Results may support more tailored approaches to growth assessment in twin pregnancies.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin-Specific Growth Chart Group | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive prenatal ultrasound assessments interpreted using a twin-specific growth chart for estimated fetal weight and biometry. Clinical decisions and perinatal risk assessments will be guided based on twin-specific percentiles. |
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| Singleton-Based Growth Chart Group | Active Comparator | Participants in this arm will receive prenatal ultrasound assessments interpreted using a singleton-based growth chart for estimated fetal weight and biometry. Clinical decisions and perinatal risk assessments will be based on singleton percentiles, which represent standard practice in many settings. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin-Specific Growth Chart Interpretation | Other | Participants in this arm will have their fetal growth assessed using twin-specific growth charts. These charts account for twin gestation norms and may influence clinical decision-making regarding growth restriction and perinatal management. The intervention does not involve any direct physical procedure or device but rather a change in the interpretation framework of routinely collected ultrasound data. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Rate of Small for Gestational Age (SGA) Diagnosis Based on Ultrasound Biometry | The primary outcome is the incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) diagnosis among twin pregnancies, as determined by fetal biometry assessed during prenatal ultrasound using either twin-specific or singleton-based growth charts. SGA is defined as an estimated fetal weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age according to the respective chart used in each study arm. | At delivery (up to 42 weeks gestation) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Rate of Neonatal Composite Morbidity | Composite includes one or more of the following: CPAP use >72 hours, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), neonatal hypoglycemia requiring IV therapy, or neonatal death. | Delivery through neonatal hospital discharge (up to 28 days of life) |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emrah Aydin, MD, PhD, MBA, MSc | Contact | 5132202779 | eaydin@iu.edu |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Hiba Mustafa, MD | Indiana University | Principal Investigator |
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Participants with twin pregnancies are randomly assigned to either the intervention arm (twin-specific fetal growth chart) or the control arm (singleton-based fetal growth chart). The two groups will be followed in parallel throughout the study period to compare diagnostic accuracy and clinical outcomes. No crossover between arms will occur. Ultrasound measurements and clinical decision-making will adhere to the assigned chart type.
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| Singleton-Based Growth Chart Interpretation | Other | Participants in this arm will have their fetal growth assessed using singleton-based growth charts. These charts are commonly used in standard practice but may overestimate growth restriction in twin pregnancies. The intervention does not involve any direct physical procedure or device but alters the interpretation framework for standard prenatal ultrasound findings. |
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| Rate of NICU Admission |
Percentage of neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) following delivery, as documented in clinical records. |
| At delivery |
| Birthweight Discordance Between Twins | Defined as the percentage difference in birthweight between the two fetuses in each twin pair. Discordance >20% will be considered clinically significant. | At delivery |
| Gestational Age at Delivery | Measured in completed weeks of gestation at the time of birth, based on clinical and ultrasound dating. | At delivery |