Home Print this page Email this page Small font sizeDefault font sizeIncrease font size
Users Online: 253
 
About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Advertise Login 
     


 
 Table of Contents  
CASE REPORT
Year : 2012  |  Volume : 1  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 49-51

Prune belly syndrome associated with full spectrum of VACTERL in a new born


1 Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Mother and Child Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech, Morocco
2 Department of Genetics, Mother and Child Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech, Morocco
3 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Mother and Child Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech, Morocco

Date of Web Publication25-Jan-2012

Correspondence Address:
Mustapha Boutbaoucht
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Mother and Child Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital, 40000, Marrakesh
Morocco
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2249-4847.92234

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is a rare congenital anomaly of uncertain etiology. Many associations of PBS with other malformations were previously reported, but only few cases of the association with VACTERL have been described. We report a rare case of a Moroccan new born with PBS and complete VACTERL association. The cause of this association is still unknown, but a common etiology is possible, especially when for the two syndromes, a defect in mesodermal differentiation, in early first trimester, has been suggested.

Keywords: Esophageal atresia, new born, Prune belly syndrome, VACTERL association


How to cite this article:
Younous S, Zarrouki Y, Boutbaoucht M, Mouaffak Y, El Idrissi KE, Aboussair N, Saiad MO. Prune belly syndrome associated with full spectrum of VACTERL in a new born. J Clin Neonatol 2012;1:49-51

How to cite this URL:
Younous S, Zarrouki Y, Boutbaoucht M, Mouaffak Y, El Idrissi KE, Aboussair N, Saiad MO. Prune belly syndrome associated with full spectrum of VACTERL in a new born. J Clin Neonatol [serial online] 2012 [cited 2023 Mar 27];1:49-51. Available from: https://www.jcnonweb.com/text.asp?2012/1/1/49/92234


  Introduction Top


Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is a rare congenital anomaly described most often in male newborns. [1] Classically, it combines a complete or partial triad made of an abdominal muscle deficiency, bilateral cryptorchidism, and dilated urinary tract. The VACTERL association is a nonrandom pattern of defects occurring together and includes at least three of its features. [2] They are two rare conditions with no definite etiology, but a defect in mesodermal differentiation, in early first trimester, has been suggested for the two syndromes. [3] Their association in a child is extremely rare and, to our knowledge, only few cases have been reported. We present the case of a new born with PBS and complete VACTERL association, and we discuss the possibility of a common etiology.


  Case Report Top


A three-day-old full-term new born was referred to our pediatric hospital for management of his esophageal atresia (EA), associated to other numerous abnormalities. It was diagnosed after several episodes of coughing and cyanosis occurring after attempts of feeding. The baby, born vaginally, was non-consanguineous, with no similar cases in siblings. We did not find any notion of teratogen exposure or toxic intake during this nonfollowed pregnancy. On physical examination, he was dyspneic, slightly hypotonic and multiple malformations were objectified: anal atresia, esophageal atresia which was confirmed by a thoraco-abdominal X-ray showing coiling of the nasogastric tube in dilated upper esophageal pouch, with presence of air in stomach suggesting a tracheo-esophageal fistula. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen showed bilateral gross hydronephrosis with megaureter, and echocardiography objectified a ventricular septal defect. All these findings gather a complete spectrum of VACTERL association. This infant also found to have a distended abdomen with lax abdominal wall revealing intestinal peristalsis and palpable kidneys and bladder [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. He also presented X-ray showing a thoracic hemivertebra [Figure 3] bilateral cryptorchidism. These data, in association with dilated urinary tract, give us the full spectrum of PBS. Karyotype of this new born was normal (46, XY). The parents refused the surgery and any medical treatment, and then the patient died after 12 days of hospitalization from septic shock with respiratory failure.
Figure 1: Image of our patient showing a distended abdomen, with a lax abdominal wall

Click here to view
Figure 2: Anal atresia and cryptorchidism

Click here to view
Figure 3: Chest-X-ray showing a thoracic hemivertebra

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


The incidence of PBS is 3.8 cases/100000 live births [4] and that of VACTERL is varying from 1/3500 to 1.6/10000. [5] The incidence of the association of both conditions is not known. Internet research found only seven articles reporting such rare association. [6],[7],[8],[9],[10] Reinberg et al. [10] in 1993 reported a case of PBS, tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) associated with VATER syndrome with urethral atresia in a stillborn. Ozturk et al. [6] in 1994 reported concordance of complete PBS and VACTERL association in a premature male infant. Lukusa et al. [11] in 1996 described incomplete PBS in a female child with additional features of VACTERL association. Both the cases described by Ozturk and Lukusa did not have EA or TEF. Potter et al. [12] in 2002 reported a 33 weeks premature female neonate of PBS associated with TEF and urethral atresia. She underwent multiple operative procedures in antenatal as well in postnatal period and she died of overwhelming sepsis. Shah et al. [7] in 2004 reported the only case associating a full spectrum of VACTERL (all six components) with a complete PBS. It was about a term, 2.3 kg male neonate, who died on the third day of life without any surgical intervention. Another case has recently reported the presence of full spectrum of VACTERL (with esophageal atresia) in a female presenting a pseudoprune belly syndrome. [8] Our patient was a male which is confirmed by karyotype.

The cause and embryogenesis of PBS remain controversial. Three possible causes have been proposed: bladder outlet obstruction, mesodermal arrest, and dysgenesis of the yolk sac. Indeed, the second theory which postulates that the cause of PBS is a mesodermal arrest, occurring between the 6th and 10th weeks of gestation, provides also an explanation for the possible association of PBS with other malformations, especially with VACTERL. [3]

The prognosis of PBS is poor in our context. However, in developed countries, the prognosis usually depends on degree of renal dysfunction and pulmonary hypoplasia. [3] With contemporary care, the survival rate has improved in patients who survive the neonatal period, with approximately 25-30% of these patients experiencing chronic renal failure and end-stage renal failure. [3] In our case, the prognosis is poorest with the concordance of many severe malformations.

 
  References Top

1.Diao B, Diallo Y, Fall PA, Ngom G, Fall B, Ndoye AK, et al. Prune -Belly syndrome: Epidemiologic, clinic and therapeutic aspects. Prog Urol 2008;18:470-4.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.Khoury MJ, Cordero JF, Greenberg F, James LM, Erickson JD. A population study of the VACTERL Association: Evidence for its etiologic heterogeneity. Pediatrics 1983;71:815-20.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.Woods AG, Brandon DH. Prune-Belly syndrome. A focused physical assessment. Adv Neonatal Care 2007;7:132-43.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.Routh JC, Huang L, Retik AB, Nelson CP. Contemporary epidemiology and characterization of newborn males with Prune -Belly syndrome. Urology 2010;76:44-8.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.Shaw-Smith C. Oesophageal atresia, tracheo-oesophageal fistula, and the VACTERL Association: Review of genetics and epidemiology. J Med Genet 2006;43:545-54.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.Ozturk B, Weber HP, Ganz A. Concordance of Prune-Belly syndrome and VACTERL Association. Klin Padiatr 1994;206:406-9.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.Shah D, Sharma S, Faridi MM, Mishra K. VACTERL Association with Prune-Belly syndrome. Indian Pediatr 2004;41:845-7.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.Ely B, Gustafson RA, Karnsakul W. Pseudoprune-Belly syndrome in vertebral abnormalities, anal atresia, cardiac abnormalities, tracheoesophageal fistula and/or esophageal atresia, renal agenesis and dysplasia, and limb defects association. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2008;6:e26.   Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.Ghritlaharey RK, Gupta G, Kushwaha AS, Chanchlani R. Prune -Belly syndrome associated with incomplete VACTERL. J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg 2007;12:39-41  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.ReinbergY, ChelimskyG, Gonzalez R. Urethral atresia and the Prune -Belly syndrome. Report of 6 cases. Br J Urol 1993;72:112.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.Lukusa T, Moerman P, Fryns JP. Caudal developmental field defect with female pseudohermaphroditism and VACTERL anomalies. Genet Couns 1996;7:207-12.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.Potter L, Rosser CJ, Iskandar S, Kroovand RL. Prune-Belly syndrome and trecheo-esophageal fistula in a premature neonate. Digital Urol J 2002. Available from: http://www.duj.com/article/rosser2/potter.html-13k. [Last cited on 2011 Jun 22].  Back to cited text no. 12
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]


This article has been cited by
1 Phenotypic severity scoring system and categorisation for prune belly syndrome: application to a pilot cohort of 50 living patients
Daniel G. Wong,Michelle K. Arevalo,Niccolo Maria Passoni,Nida S. Iqbal,Thomas Jascur,Adam J. Kern,Emma J. Sanchez,Arthi Satyanarayan,Jyothsna Gattineni,Linda A. Baker
BJU International. 2018;
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Exploration of the fetus with gross anomaly: a case of pseudo prune belly syndrome
Bhagyam Valappil,Lalu Krishna,Ranjith Sreedharan,Ashwija Shetty
Anatomy & Cell Biology. 2018; 51(3): 205
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
3 Pseudo Prune Belly Syndrome: Diagnosis Revealed by Imaging – A Case Report and Brief Review
Hemal Grover,Sanjay Sethi,Jatin Garg,Amrit Pal Ahluwalia
Polish Journal of Radiology. 2017; 82: 252
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Case Report
Discussion
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed13944    
    Printed303    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded690    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 3    

Recommend this journal