• Three fatal cases of prune-belly syndrome were associated with nonrenal features of Potter syndrome. The abdominal muscle hypoplasia is thought to be a result of large kidneys compressing the developing abdominal musculature during a critical phase of fetal development. Thus, Potter syndrome and prune-belly syndrome may coexist when nonfunctioning large kidneys result in oligohydramnios. A teratogenic role of cytomegalovirus inclusion disease and other viruses is possible in the pathogenesis of these syndromes.
(Am J Dis Child 131:672-674, 1977)