BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPotter syndromePotter phenotype; Potter's syndromePotter syndrome and Potter phenotype refers to a group of findings associated with a lack of amniotic fluid and kidney failure in an unborn infant. Amniotic fluidAmniotic fluid is a clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy. It is contained in the amniotic sac....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes In Potter syndrome, the primary problem is kidney failure. The kidneys fail to develop properly as the baby is growing in the womb. The kidneys normally produce the amniotic fluid (as urine) that surrounds the unborn baby.Potter phenotype refers to a typical facial appearance that occurs in a newborn when there is no amniotic fluid. The lack of amniotic fluid is called oligohydramnios. Without amniotic fluid, the infant is not cushioned from the walls of the uterus. The pressure of the uterine wall leads to an unusual facial appearance, including widely separated eyes.Potter phenotype may also lead to abnormal limbs, or limbs that are held in abnormal positions or contractures.ContracturesA contracture develops when the normally stretchy (elastic) tissues are replaced by nonstretchy (inelastic) fiber-like tissue. This tissue makes it ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Oligohydramnios also stops development of the lungs, so the lungs do not work properly at birth. Symptoms Symptoms include:Widely separated eyes with epicanthal folds, broad nasal bridge, low set ears, and receding chin Epicanthal foldsAn epicanthal fold is skin of the upper eyelid that covers the inner corner of the eye. The fold runs from nose to the inner side of the eyebrow....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Broad nasal bridgeBroad nasal bridge is a widening of the top part of the nose.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low set earsLow-set ears and pinna abnormalities refer to an abnormal shape or position of the outer ear (pinna or auricle).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Receding chinMicrognathia is a term for a lower jaw that is smaller than normal.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Absence of urine output Difficulty breathing Exams and Tests A pregnancy ultrasound may show lack of amniotic fluid, absence of fetal kidneys, or severely abnormal kidneys in the unborn baby.UltrasoundA pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of how a baby is developing in the womb. It is also used to chec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following tests may be used to help diagnose the condition in a newborn:X-ray of the abdomen X-ray of the abdomenAn abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines. Wh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article X-ray of the lungsX-ray of the lungsA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Resuscitation at delivery may be attempted pending the diagnosis. Treatment will be provided for any urinary outlet obstruction. Outlook (Prognosis) This is a very serious condition. Most of the time it is deadly. The short-term outcome depends on the severity of lung involvement. Long-term outcome depends on the severity of kidney involvement. Prevention There is no known prevention.Open ReferencesReferencesMiyashita Y, Formeck C, Moritz M. Nephrology. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 14.Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Congenital and developmental abnormalities of the urinary tract. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 168.Mitchell AL. Congenital anomalies. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 30.AllVideoImagesTogAmniotic fluid - illustration Amniotic fluid not only protects the fetus from injury and temperature changes, it also is circulated by the fetus every 3 hours. Amniotic fluidillustrationBroad nasal bridge - illustration Broad nasal bridge, or widening of the base of the nose, is a relative term. It can be a normal facial feature, but it can also be associated with certain congenital disorders such as basal cell nevus syndrome, or trisomy 8, a chromosome defect.Broad nasal bridgeillustrationAmniotic fluid - illustration Amniotic fluid not only protects the fetus from injury and temperature changes, it also is circulated by the fetus every 3 hours. Amniotic fluidillustrationBroad nasal bridge - illustration Broad nasal bridge, or widening of the base of the nose, is a relative term. It can be a normal facial feature, but it can also be associated with certain congenital disorders such as basal cell nevus syndrome, or trisomy 8, a chromosome defect.Broad nasal bridgeillustrationRelated Information Acute kidney failure(Condition)Amniotic fluid(Special Topic)Epicanthal folds(Symptoms)Broad nasal bridge(Symptoms)Low-set ears and pinna abnormalities(Symptoms)Micrognathia(Symptoms)Contracture deformity(Symptoms)Renal(Special Topic) Review Date: 8/5/2023 Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Potter syndromePotter phenotype; Potter's syndromePotter syndrome and Potter phenotype refers to a group of findings associated with a lack of amniotic fluid and kidney failure in an unborn infant. Amniotic fluidAmniotic fluid is a clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy. It is contained in the amniotic sac....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes In Potter syndrome, the primary problem is kidney failure. The kidneys fail to develop properly as the baby is growing in the womb. The kidneys normally produce the amniotic fluid (as urine) that surrounds the unborn baby.Potter phenotype refers to a typical facial appearance that occurs in a newborn when there is no amniotic fluid. The lack of amniotic fluid is called oligohydramnios. Without amniotic fluid, the infant is not cushioned from the walls of the uterus. The pressure of the uterine wall leads to an unusual facial appearance, including widely separated eyes.Potter phenotype may also lead to abnormal limbs, or limbs that are held in abnormal positions or contractures.ContracturesA contracture develops when the normally stretchy (elastic) tissues are replaced by nonstretchy (inelastic) fiber-like tissue. This tissue makes it ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Oligohydramnios also stops development of the lungs, so the lungs do not work properly at birth. Symptoms Symptoms include:Widely separated eyes with epicanthal folds, broad nasal bridge, low set ears, and receding chin Epicanthal foldsAn epicanthal fold is skin of the upper eyelid that covers the inner corner of the eye. The fold runs from nose to the inner side of the eyebrow....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Broad nasal bridgeBroad nasal bridge is a widening of the top part of the nose.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low set earsLow-set ears and pinna abnormalities refer to an abnormal shape or position of the outer ear (pinna or auricle).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Receding chinMicrognathia is a term for a lower jaw that is smaller than normal.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Absence of urine output Difficulty breathing Exams and Tests A pregnancy ultrasound may show lack of amniotic fluid, absence of fetal kidneys, or severely abnormal kidneys in the unborn baby.UltrasoundA pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of how a baby is developing in the womb. It is also used to chec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following tests may be used to help diagnose the condition in a newborn:X-ray of the abdomen X-ray of the abdomenAn abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines. Wh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article X-ray of the lungsX-ray of the lungsA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Resuscitation at delivery may be attempted pending the diagnosis. Treatment will be provided for any urinary outlet obstruction. Outlook (Prognosis) This is a very serious condition. Most of the time it is deadly. The short-term outcome depends on the severity of lung involvement. Long-term outcome depends on the severity of kidney involvement. Prevention There is no known prevention.Open ReferencesReferencesMiyashita Y, Formeck C, Moritz M. Nephrology. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 14.Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Congenital and developmental abnormalities of the urinary tract. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 168.Mitchell AL. Congenital anomalies. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 30.