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- $Unique_ID{BRK04172}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Renal Agenesis, Bilateral}
- $Subject{Renal Agenesis, Bilateral Kidney Agenesis Renal Agenesis
- Oligohydramnios Sequence (Potter Syndrome) Cat-Eye Syndrome Fraser Syndrome
- Melnick-Fraser Syndrome MURCS Association Rokitansky Sequence Sirenomelia
- Sequence Unilateral Renal Agenesis }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 691:
- Renal Agenesis, Bilateral
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Bilateral Renal
- Agenesis) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to
- find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Kidney Agenesis
- Renal Agenesis
-
- Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Oligohydramnios Sequence (Potter Syndrome)
- Cat-Eye Syndrome
- Fraser Syndrome
- Melnick-Fraser Syndrome
- MURCS Association
- Rokitansky Sequence
- Sirenomelia Sequence
- Unilateral Renal Agenesis
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Bilateral Renal Agenesis is the absence of both kidneys at birth. It is
- a genetic disorder characterized by a failure of the kidneys to develop in a
- fetus. This absence of kidneys causes a deficiency of amniotic fluid
- (Oligohydramnios) in a pregnant woman. Normally, the amniotic fluid acts as
- a cushion for the developing fetus. When there is an insufficient amount of
- this fluid, compression of the fetus may occur resulting in further
- malformations of the baby.
-
- This disorder is more common in infants born of a parent who has a kidney
- malformation, particularly the absence of one kidney (unilateral renal
- agenesis). Studies have proven that unilateral renal agenesis and bilateral
- renal agenesis are genetically related.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Bilateral renal agenesis is characterized by the absence of kidneys and of
- urine in a baby. The face usually consists of wide-set eyes; a "parrot beak"
- nose; a receding chin, and large low set ears deficient in cartilage. Other
- symptoms may include excess and dehydrated skin, a prominent fold at the
- corner of each eye, the facial expression of an older infant, and deformities
- of the hands and feet.
-
- Premature labor, breech delivery and a disproportionately low birthweight
- are often associated with bilateral renal agenesis. The baby may also have
- multiple malformations including in females the absence of a uterus and upper
- vagina, or in males an absence of seminal vesicles and spermatic duct.
- Gastro-intestinal malformations such as the absence of a rectum, esophagus
- and duodenum may also occur. Symptoms may further include the presence of
- only a single umbilical artery, and major deformities of the lower part of
- the body and the lower limbs.
-
- Causes
-
- Bilateral renal agenesis is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. Human
- traits, including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the
- interaction of two genes, one received from the father and one from the
- mother. In dominant disorders a single copy of the disease gene (received
- from either the mother or father) will be expressed "dominating" the other
- normal gene and resulting in appearance of the disease. The risk of
- transmitting the disorder from affected parent to offspring is fifty percent
- for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.
-
- Bilateral renal agenesis tends to occur when at least one parent has a
- kidney malformation or the absence of a kidney (unilateral kidney agenesis).
-
- Affected Population
-
- Bilateral renal agenesis is found in male infants more frequently than
- females. It tends to occur in the children of parents having kidney
- abnormalities. It is a very rare disorder.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Bilateral
- Renal Agenesis. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Oligohydramnios Sequence (Potter Syndrome) is characterized by an
- insufficient level of amniotic fluid. It may be caused by the absence of
- urinary output by the fetus or by chronic leakage of fluid from the amniotic
- sack.
-
- Cat-Eye Syndrome (Coloboma of Iris-Anal Atresis Syndrome), is a disorder
- which is characterized by a fissure in the iris of the eye and the absence of
- an anal opening. Other abnormalities may include renal agenesis.
-
- Fraser Syndrome (Cryptophthalmos Syndrome) is a genetic disorder in which
- the infant is born with sealed eyelids and incomplete development of the
- sexual organs.
-
- Melnick-Fraser Syndrome (Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome) is a genetic
- disorder characterized by hearing loss and kidney malformations, including
- renal agenesis.
-
- MURCS Association (Mullerian Duct, Renal and Cervical Vertebral Defects)
- is a rare disorder characterized by malformation of the vertebrae, and
- absence of a vagina and kidneys.
-
- Rokitansky Sequence is a disorder in which the vagina and uterus are
- incompletely formed.
-
- Sirenomelia Sequence results in the growth of a single lower extremity.
- (For more information on this disorder, choose "Sirenomelia" as your search
- term in the Rare Disease Database.
-
- Unilateral Renal Agenesis is the presence of only one kidney at birth.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Treatment of bilateral renal agenesis is symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- Research into the cause of renal agenesis is ongoing, with the hope of
- identifying the gene that causes this birth defect.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- July 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
- every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
- Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
- current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on this Bilateral Renal Agenesis, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- National Kidney Foundation
- 2 Park Avenue
- New York, NY 10016
- (212) 889-2210
- (800) 622-9010
-
- American Kidney Fund
- 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010
- Rockville, MD 20852
- (301) 881-3052
- (800) 638-8299
- (800) 492-8361 (MD)
-
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-3585
-
- For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals:
-
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
- White Plains, NY 10605
- (914) 428-7100
-
- Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
- 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
- Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- (800) 336-GENE
- (301) 652-5553
-
- References
-
- MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 8th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
- University Press, 1986. Pp. 749-750.
-
- SMITH'S RECOGNIZABLE PATTERNS OF HUMAN MALFORMATION, 4th ed.: Kenneth
- Lyons Jones, M.D.; W.B. Saunders Company, 1988. Pp. 572-573.
-
-