Necrotizing enterocolitis in multiple-birth infants.

Over a 5-year period, 20 infants of multiple-gestation births (16 twin, 2 triplet) developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (15 infants) or suspected NEC (5 infants). During the same period, 532 infants of multiple gestations were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit, yielding a NEC incidence in this population of 3.8%. In two twin sets, both infants developed NEC or suspected NEC, and in three sets only the affected twin was transferred to our nursery. Five infants required surgical intervention (25%) and three infants died (overall mortality, 15%). Fifteen siblings who did not develop NEC served as a control group. Analysis showed that the 1-minute Apgar score was the most significant factor in predicting NEC (P less than .028) and need for surgical intervention (P less than .020). In this series, 82% of the infants with 1-minute Apgar less than 6 developed NEC, whereas 31% with 1-minute Apgar greater than 6 developed NEC.