Case-control study of self reported genitourinary infections and risk of gastroschisis: findings from the national birth defects prevention study, 1997-2003.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between genitourinary infections in the month before conception to the end of the first trimesterand gastroschisis.


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


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


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


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant association between self reported urinary tract infection plus sexually transmitted infection just before conception and in early pregnancy and gastroschisis.
Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. marcia.feldkamp@hsc.utah.edu
Marcia L
ML
Feldkamp
Jennita
J
Reefhuis
James
J
Kucik
Sergey
S
Krikov
Andy
A
Wilson
Cynthia A
CA
Moore
John C
JC
Carey
Lorenzo D
LD
Botto
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections