FHR patterns in Potter's syndrome

The antenatal diagnosis of Potter's syndrome (bilateral renal agenesis) is important in order to avoid delivery by cesarean section of newborns with congenital anomalies incompatible with life. In seven cases of this syndrome delivered at the Hasharon Hospital, a similar FHR pattern was retrospectively observed in pregnancy and labor suggesting that electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) may possibly contribute to the diagnosis of this condition in utero. Nevertheless, it must be emphasized, that similar cardiotocographic alterations may result from umbilical cord and/or placental compression in the presence of severe oligohydramnios. The latter may, concurrent with Potter's syndrome, predispose to changes in intraamniotic pressure transmitted to fetal autonomic centers. Thus, these variations in FHR pattern may be of value only if the presence of other signs of Potter's syndrome is confirmed by a reliable ultrasound examination. Further observations of antenatal FHR patterns in a large number of cases of this syndrome may establish their value in the antenatal diagnosis of Potter's syndrome.