Analysis of component findings in 79 patients diagnosed with VACTERL association

VACTERL association is a relatively common condition, though the causes remain poorly understood. We present data on 79 patients diagnosed with VACTERL association and perform statistical analysis on a selected subset of 60 patients with at least three component features, and who, after review, did not meet criteria for a likely alternate diagnosis. Considered individually, no two component features are significantly associated, but several multivariate statistical techniques suggest novel patterns of the co-occurrence of component features, and latent class cluster analysis demonstrates the presence of five major sub-groups of patients. These findings have implications for both our understanding of VACTERL association and for the approach to research involving this condition. Published 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.