Twinning and neurologic morbidity

J. M. Scheller and K. B. Nelson
Neuroepidemiology Branch, National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md 20892.

OBJECTIVE--To review the literature regarding neurologic morbidity among twins. RESEARCH DESIGN--Review of medical literature and data from the National Center for Health Statistics. CONCLUSIONS--The twinning rate is increasing concurrent with an increase in the survival of twins. Because twins are more often born prematurely and are of low birth weight, and premature infants are at increased risk for neurologic morbidity, twins are vulnerable to this problem. In addition, twins are more likely to develop brain abnormalities in utero, which is thought to be related to placental vascular anastomoses. Pediatricians should expect more twins in the future with congenital neurologic illness.