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The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey (Belgium): a population-based registe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Ruth Loos*
Affiliation:
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Human Genetics, Belgium. ruth.loos@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Catherine Derom
Affiliation:
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Human Genetics, Belgium.
Robert Vlietinck
Affiliation:
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Human Genetics, Belgium.
Robert Derom
Affiliation:
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Human Genetics, Belgium.
*
*Correspondence: Ruth Loos, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Human Genetics, Herestraat 49 ON6, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Tel: +3216345896; Fax: +3216345994

Abstract

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The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey (EFPTS), started in 1964, is unique among the 17 major European twin registers because it is population based, the twins (and higher order births) are ascertained at birth, basic perinatal data are collected, chorion type is established and, when appropriate, genetic markers including DNA fingerprints, are determined. The total number of sets is 5089 twin, 158 triplet and 14 of higher order. Zygosity has been diagnosed on the basis of sex, placental structure and genetic markers in more than 95% of pairs. The EFPTS is the only large register that includes placental data and allows differentiation of three subtypes of monozygotic twins based on the time of the initial zygotic division: the dichorionic—diamnionic pairs (early), the monochorionic—diamnionic pairs (intermediate), and the monochorionic—monoamnionic pairs (late). Methodology and basic results in twins are considered in this article; detailed studies will be reported later. The sex proportion in dizygotic (DZ) twins is the same as in singletons, whereas monozygotic (MZ) twins number more girls than boys. The difference in perinatal mortality between DZ and MZ twins is limited to the monochorionic MZ subgroup. Birth weight is highest in DZ twins and diminishes stepwise in MZ dichorionic and MZ monochorionic twins. Duration of pregnancy follows the same trend but is limited to a few days. Iatrogenic pregnancies are increasing to the point of representing almost 50% of the twin births in 1997.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998