Prune Belly syndrome, also known as Eagle-Barrett or triad syndrome, is a distinctive set of physical problems that a child is born with. These problems are:
- The abdominal muscles in the front are weak or missing
- Parts of the urinary tract develop abnormally
- In males (95% of cases), the testes stay up inside the abdomen and don't come down into the scrotum.
What causes it?
The cause of the syndrome is unknown, but researchers believe that disruption of the growth of the fetus causes the problems to develop. It is thought that something blocks a part of the fetus' urinary tract, and this causes other parts of the tract to develop abnormally. Prune Belly syndrome occurs in 1 in 40,000 live births in the U.S.
How is it diagnosed?
Ultrasound during pregnancy can sometimes see the abnormal development of the bladder and urinary tract. While the fetus grows, fluid develops in its abdomen, which stretches larger and larger. The fluid is reabsorbed before birth, so when born the infant has a sagging or wrinkled abdomen (thus the "prune belly" name).
After birth, ultrasound and x-rays can determine what type of urinary tract abnormalities are present.
Unfortunately, Prune Belly syndrome can have severe effects on the infant. 20% of babies die before birth, and 30% die from kidney problems with the first two years of life. In the remaining 50% of infants there are varying degrees of urinary problems.
How is it treated?
There is no cure for the syndrome, but repairs to the urinary tract can be made. Some surgeons are attempting to correct problems on the fetus before it is born, but this has had mixed results. Children prone to urinary tract infections are given preventive antibiotics. Surgery can be done to bring a boy's testes down into his scrotum.
Sometimes despite the best treatment a child's kidneys will stop working (renal failure). The treatment for this is either dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Future research
Better surgical techniques, especially using laparoscopy, will make the necessary repair operations for a child with Prune Belly syndrome less difficult. As more is learned about the syndrome, treatments can be improved and more children helped to survive.
Information for this article was taken from:
- Prune Belly Syndrome Network. About Prune Belly.
- Franco, I. (2001). Prune Belly syndrome. eMedicine, accessed at http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3055.htm
- Leeners, B., Sauer, I., Schefels, J., Cotarelo, C.L., Funk, A. (2000). Prune-belly syndrome: Therapeutic options including in utero placement of a vesicoamniotic shunt. J Clin Ultrasound, Vol. 28, No. 9, pp 500-507.
