[Diagnosis of poor intrauterine fetal growth in twin pregnancies (author's transl)].

In 11 cases both twins were of normal weight. In 7 cases one twin and in 12 cases both twins were underweighed (the growth retardation was classified according to the intrauterine growth curves after Hohenauer applicable to our area). The determination of total 24 hours urinary estrogens and serial ultrasonic measurements of biparietal diameters appeared in our study to be the best parameters for the detection of intrauterine growth retardation. Serum HPL determination was unreliable. In addition 2 types of growth retardation in twins could be recognized from the estrogen values. In one, a dysfunction of the fetoplacental unit existed; in the other, the etiology of the growth retardation could not be determined by the methods used in the study (genetic origin?).