title: Comparison of environmental risk factors for esophageal atresia, anorectal malformations, and the combined phenotype in 263 German families.
abstract: Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) and anorectal malformations (ARM) represent the severe ends of the fore- and hindgut malformation spectra. Previous research suggests that environmental factors are implicated in their etiology. These risk factors might indicate the influence of specific etiological mechanisms on distinct developmental processes (e.g. fore- vs. hindgut malformation). The present study compared environmental factors in patients with isolated EA/TEF, isolated ARM, and the combined phenotype during the periconceptional period and the first trimester of pregnancy in order to investigate the hypothesis that fore- and hindgut malformations involve differing environmental factors. Patients with isolated EA/TEF (n = 98), isolated ARM (n = 123), and the combined phenotype (n = 42) were included. Families were recruited within the context of two German multicenter studies of the genetic and environmental causes of EA/TEF (great consortium) and ARM (CURE-Net). Exposures of interest were ascertained using an epidemiological questionnaire. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to assess differences between the three phenotypes. Newborns with isolated EA/TEF and the combined phenotype had significantly lower birth weights than newborns with isolated ARM (P = 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Mothers of isolated EA/TEF consumed more alcohol periconceptional (80%) than mothers of isolated ARM or the combined phenotype (each 67%). Parental smoking (P = 0.003) and artificial reproductive techniques (P = 0.03) were associated with isolated ARM. Unexpectedly, maternal periconceptional multivitamin supplementation was most frequent among patients with the most severe form of disorder, i.e. the combined phenotype (19%). Significant differences in birth weight were apparent between the three phenotype groups. This might be attributable to the limited ability of EA/TEF fetuses to swallow amniotic fluid, thus depriving them of its nutritive properties. Furthermore, the present data suggest that fore- and hindgut malformations involve differing environmental factors. Maternal periconceptional multivitamin supplementation was highest among patients with the combined phenotype. This latter finding is contrary to expectation, and warrants further analysis in large prospective epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zwink
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Choinitzki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baudisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hölscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Boemers
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turial
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heydweiller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keppler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Asklepios Children's Hospital St. Augustin, St. Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pauly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Asklepios Children's Hospital St. Augustin, St. Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Brokmeier
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Center Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leutner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, Center for Child and Youth Health, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmiedeke
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Märzheuser
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grasshoff-Derr
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holland-Cunz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Hamm, Hamm, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, Cnopf'sche Kinderklinik, Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Surgery Hannover, Hannover Medical School and Bult Children's Hospital, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ure
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Surgery Hannover, Hannover Medical School and Bult Children's Hospital, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacher
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.|Department of Genomics, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nöthen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.|Department of Genomics, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.|Child Center Maulbronn gGmbH, Hospital for Pediatric Neurology and Social Pediatrics, Maulbronn, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jenetzky
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.|Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reutter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000071056:Anorectal Malformations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins
keywords: anorectal malformation; esophageal atresia; risk factor; smoking