Abstract
BACKGROUND: Trichorionic triplet pregnancy reduction to twin pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of preterm delivery but not with a lower risk of miscarriage. However, data on dichorionic triamniotic (DCTA) triplet pregnancy outcomes are lacking. This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes of DCTA triplets conceived via in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) managed expectantly or reduced to a monochorionic (MC) singleton or monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins at 11-13(+ 6) gestational weeks. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-eight patients with DCTA triplets conceived via IVF-ET between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively analysed. DCTA triplets with three live foetuses were reduced to a MC singleton (group A) or MCDA twins (group B) or underwent expectant management (group C). Each multifoetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) was performed at 11-13(+ 6) gestational weeks. Pregnancy outcomes in the 3 groups were compared. RESULTS: Eighty-four DCTA pregnancies were reduced to MC singleton pregnancies, 149 were reduced to MCDA pregnancies, and 65 were managed expectantly. There were no significant differences among groups A, B, and C in miscarriage rate (8.3 vs. 7.4 vs. 10.8%, respectively) and live birth rate (90.5 vs. 85.2 vs. 83.1%, respectively) (P > 0.05). Group A had significantly lower rates of preterm birth (8.3 vs. 84.6%; odds ratio (OR) 0.017, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.006-0.046) and low birth weight (LBW; 9.2 vs. 93.2%; OR 0.007, 95% CI 0.003-0.020) than group C (P < 0.001). Group B had significantly lower preterm birth (47.0 vs. 84.6%; OR 0.161, 95% CI 0.076-0.340) and LBW rates (58.7 vs. 93.2%; OR 0.103, 95% CI 0.053-0.200) than group C (P < 0.001). Group A had significantly lower preterm birth (8.3 vs. 47.0%; OR 0.103, 95% CI 0.044-0.237; P < 0.001), LBW (9.2 vs. 58.7%; OR 0.071, 95% CI 0.032-0.162; P < 0.001) and perinatal death rates (1.3 vs. 9.1%; OR 0.132, 95% CI 0.018-0.991; P = 0.021) than group B. CONCLUSION: The MFPR of DCTA triplets to singleton or MCDA pregnancies was associated with better pregnancy outcomes compared to expectant management. DCTA triplets reduced to singleton pregnancies had better perinatal outcomes than DCTA triplets reduced to MCDA pregnancies.