Clinicoplacental correlates of amniocyte vacuolization in association with gastroschisis

Diffuse, fine and homogeneous lipid droplet accumulation in amniocytes is highly characteristic of gastroschisis, but only seen in about 20% of cases. The functional implications of excessive lipid accumulation, and the exact mechanisms underlying the strong association between amniocyte lipid accumulation and chorioamnionitis/meconium exposure in a subset of gastroschisis cases remain undetermined.