BMJ  2008;336:1420-1423 (21 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39567.509074.25 (published 16 June 2008)

Research

Case-control study of self reported genitourinary infections and risk of gastroschisis: findings from the national birth defects prevention study, 1997-2003

Marcia L Feldkamp, epidemiologist1,2, Jennita Reefhuis, epidemiologist3, James Kucik, health scientist3, Sergey Krikov, research analyst 1,2, Andy Wilson, research analyst1,2, Cynthia A Moore, clinical geneticist3, John C Carey, paediatric geneticist1,2, Lorenzo D Botto, medical epidemiologist1,2

1 Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA , 2 Utah Birth Defect Network, Utah Department of Health, Utah, 3 National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Correspondence to: M L Feldkamp marcia.feldkamp{at}hsc.utah.edu

Objective To assess the association between genitourinary infections in the month before conception to the end of the first trimesterand gastroschisis.

Design Case-control study with self reported infections from a computer assisted telephone interview.

Setting National birth defects prevention study, a multisite, population based study including 10 surveillance systems for birth defects in the United States.

Participants Mothers of 505 offspring with gastroschisis and 4924 healthy liveborn infants as controls.

Main outcome measure Adjusted odds ratios for gastroschisis with 95% confidence intervals.

Results About 16% (n=81) of case mothers and 9% (n=425) of control mothers reported a genitourinary infection in the relevant time period; 4% (n=21) and 2% (n=98) reported a sexually transmitted infection and 13% (n=67) and 7% (n=338) reported a urinary tract infection, respectively. Case mothers aged <25 years reported higher rates of urinary tract infection alone and in combination with a sexually transmitted infection compared with control mothers. In women who reported both types of infection, there was a greater risk of gastroschisis in offspring (adjusted odds ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 11.6).

Conclusion There is a significant association between self reported urinary tract infection plus sexually transmitted infection just before conception and in early pregnancy and gastroschisis.


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Elliott, L., Loomis, D., Lottritz, L., Slotnick, R. N., Oki, E., Todd, R. (2009). Case-control Study of a Gastroschisis Cluster in Nevada. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 163: 1000-1006 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Mastroiacovo, P. (2008). Risk factors for gastroschisis. BMJ 336: 1386-1387 [Full text]  
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