risk factors

Last reviewed 01/2018

The exact cause of gastroschisis is unknown.

The following have been reported to be associated with the development of the condition:

• low maternal age
• one European study found that compared with mothers aged 25-29, the relative risk was 7.0 (95% confidence interval 5.6 to 8.7) for mothers under 20 and 2.4 (2.0 to 3.0) for mothers aged 20-24 years.
• use of illicit drugs - cocaine
• early and unprotected sexual intercourse
• maternal smoking
• genitourinary infection.
• low parity
• low socio-economic status
• poor maternal diet
• drugs - decongestants, ibuprofen and aspirin (1,2)

Reference:

• (1) Poddar R, Hartley L. Exomphalos and gastroschisis Crit Care Pain (2009) 9 (2): 48-51
• (2) Mastroiacovo P. Risk factors for gastroschisis. BMJ. 2008;336(7658):1386-7.