[Familial occurrence of bilateral renal agenesis]

The 58 cases of bilateral renal agenesis (Potter syndrome) registered in the Genetic Counselling of our institute in the last 12 years are reviewed. The only recurrent case which has been prenatally diagnosed is described in details. An urinary bladder anomaly like that of the subsequent child has not been reported in such a family previously. The authors analyze the possible inheritance patterns taking into account the previous references, too. They suggest the malformation is a genetically heterogeneous entity. They emphasize that nowadays the birth of a newborn with bilateral renal agenesis can be prevented in all cases.