A possibly distinctive vacuolar change of the amniotic epithelium associated with gastroschisis.

Histological examination of the placental membranes of 3 of 4 infants with gastroschisis revealed peculiar vacuolar change of the cytoplasm of the amniotic epithelial cells. No storage material was demonstrated by special stains or electron microscopic study. This vacuolar change is different from other amniotic cell abnormalities, such as those related to meconium staining.