An evaluation of nutritional and vasoactive stimulants as risk factors for gastroschisis: a pilot study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate poor maternal nutrition, environmental exposures and vasoactive stimulants as potential risk factors for gastroschisis.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted among singleton pregnancies diagnosed in a tertiary teaching hospital in a 22-month period. Cases of gastroschisis were matched to controls at the time of diagnosis by race and maternal age. Demographics, periconceptual exposures, nutritional biomarkers, and illicit drug hair analysis were evaluated. Analyses were performed using conditional logistic regression.

Results: Thirty gastroschisis cases and 76 controls were studied with no associations observed for illicit drug use or serum levels of ferritin, iron, B6, B12, folate, or zinc. Neither prescription medication nor over the counter mediation use differed between cases and controls. Following adjustment for insurance, education, low BMI, and nulliparity, mothers of gastroschisis cases had an increased odds of alcohol use 1 month prior and/or during early pregnancy compared with controls, with adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.19 (95% CI 1.01-11.61).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that further investigation of vasoactive stimulants such as alcohol is warranted in the search to identify risk factors for gastroschisis.