Sir.—Carlos F. Salinas and associates have reported the occurrence of gastroschisis in siblings (Journal 133:514-517). My experience shows that gastroschisis and omphalocele can occur in siblings and suggests that the former condition also represents anomaly of the umbilical ring.
Report of Cases.—Case 1.—This male infant was born after a 34-week gestation to a 23-year-old primigravida, para 1 woman and her 18-year-old husband. The infant weighed 2,140 g and had eviscerated, thickened intestines with malrotation, protruding through a 5-cm cleft to the right side of an intact umbilicus. Surgical closure of the defect was performed. He is now 5 years old. We found no history of abdominal-wall defect in the family.
Case 2.—The boy's sister was a full-term stillborn infant with a huge umbilical omphalocele and no additional anomalies.
Comment.—To our knowledge, familiar occurrence of omphalocele and gastroschisis has not been hitherto reported.