Early sonographic aspects of kidney morphology in Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by postaxial hexadactyly, obesity, mental retardation, pigmented retinopathy, hypogonadism, and renal disease. Morphological changes are present in all areas of the kidney, the renal medulla being the most frequently affected site. Cystic and dysplastic changes are prevalent. Seven children from five families were followed from birth through their 5th birthday. Serial renal sonography revealed a number of characteristic features. Bilateral renal enlargement and increased parenchymal echogenicity were present at birth. The usual corticomedullary differentiation was absent. Pyramids were either not seen or deformed. With high-resolution ultrasonography, small cysts were detected at the corticomedullary junction. After the 3rd month of life, there was a striking inversion of normal echogenicity, the inner medulla became more echogenic and was demarcated from the less-echogenic cortex. After 12 months, the kidney size regressed significantly. Fetal lobulation persisted in some patients. In conclusion, ultrasonography is a useful tool to evaluate the extent of renal lesions, but more importantly to differentiate bilateral polycystic kidney diseases in the newborn period.

Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome: scintigraphic appearance of kidneys.

We report a 7-year-old child with Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome, an autosomal recessive syndrome, with impaired renal function detected by means of technetium-99m diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (Tc-99m DTPA), technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-99m DMSA) scintigraphy, and ultrasonography. The altered renal morphology and decreased renal functions are documented.

Renal involvement in the Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome: report of five cases.

We report five patients with Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome (LMBBS) who had renal involvement. Intravenous pyelography showed bilateral or unilateral calyceal clubbing and blunting in all patients. In addition, one patient had a parapelvic cyst in the left kidney and another had bilateral lobulated renal outlines of the fetal type. One patient had a urinary concentrating defect and two patients showed increased fractional sodium excretion. Estimated tubular phosphate reabsorption values were in normal limits in all of five patients. No patient had a urine acidification defect, proteinuria, glycosuria, or hyperaminoaciduria. One patient died from end-stage renal failure. The remaining four patients had normal serum creatinine values and estimated creatinine clearances. 99mTechnetium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetate renal scanning showed prolonged and delayed concentration and delayed excretion in three of the four patients who survived. A focal scar was determined on the left kidney of one of four patients by 99mtechnetium-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scanning. All LMBBS cases with or without renal symptoms should be routinely evaluated for renal abnormalities. Renal scanning is a valuable method, especially for determining the renal involvement in the early stage of disease.

Skeletal abnormalities of hands and feet in Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl (LMBB) syndrome: a radiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify radiological changes of the hands and feet in a large group of patients with Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome. DESIGN: Postero-anterior views of hands and feet were obtained and analysed. PATIENTS: The material consists of 43 Scandinavian patients with the syndrome (24 males and 19 females; age 3 weeks to 57 years, median 23 years at the time of radiological examination). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Polydactyly of the hands and feet is one of the main criteria. This was noted clinically in 33 of 43 patients, but all but 3 had been operated on before this radiological study. Remnants of the extirpated finger or toe noted as exostoses, additional joint surfaces of duplication were found in half the hands and feet, while the remainder showed no radiological changes. Other features found were short, broad bones and flat joint surfaces of the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joints. We also found a high frequency of short or long ulna in relation to the radius and Madelung deformity of the wrist in several patients. Thus, the radiographs showed several non-specific normal variations besides remnants or postoperative changes after polydactyly.

Quadriparesis in the Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet syndrome: case report.

A 36 year old patient known to suffer from the Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet syndrome (LMBBS) developed spastic quadriparesis. The typical features of the syndrome, presented by this patient were polydactyly, obesity, hypogonadism, retinitis pigmentosa and relative mental retardation. Severe spinal cervical and lumbar canal stenosis imaged by plain X-rays and computerised tomography was found. Magnetic resonance imaging showed significant atrophy of the spinal cord, indicating that the cause of the quadriparesis was cervical myelopathy. The patient underwent laminoplasty with some improvement.

Renal involvement in the Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome. Functional and radiological studies.

The renal abnormality of the Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome (LMBS) was investigated in six patients. The glomerular filtration rate (CIn) and the effective renal plasma flow (CPAH) were evaluated by standard clearance techniques and the single injection method, and the maximal concentration capacity was estimated by the ddAVP test. The kidney surface area and length were related to the body surface area, as well as the lumbar vertebrae L1-L3, and the relationship with the GFR was studied. All six patients showed renal abnormalities: Five had small kidneys with reduced GFR and concentrating ability, and one had hyperaminoaciduria (but normal kidney size). Two patients developed terminal renal failure (one of them was successfully transplanted), illustrating the progressive character of the renal lesion. Three of the patients had had recurrent urinary tract infections, but the radiological changes of the kidneys were of the same character as in the others (symmetrical and irregular parenchymal reduction, and blunting and clubbing of the calyces). Since renal abnormalities, with considerable risk for progression to terminal renal failure, are common in the LMBS, regular urine cultures and blood pressure measurements are probably of great importance.

Congenital renal abnormalities in the Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome.

Two children with Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome had radiographic evidence of cysts in the renal medulla, and one had impaired renal function and infection. The frequency of cystic disease in this syndrome implies that intravenous urography should be carried out on all patients with this syndrome. Children with renal abnormalities should be followed to avoid further damage from urinary infection, or from dehydration in those with a concentrating defect. Regular renal function tests should be carried out on other children. and full investigation should follow if abnormalities are found in order that the natural history of the often fatal renal lesion can be clarified.

The renal lesion of the Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome.

In nine children with the Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome a high incidence of nephropathy was documented. Renal involvement was noted in seven patients before or simultaneously with the diagnosis of LMBS. Five have uremia and two have died. All patients had an abnormal urogrum. The spectrum of renal lesions ranged from mesangial tissue proliferation to glomerular clerosis, interstitial scarring, and medullary and cortical cyst formation. A relationship between the lesions seen in the LMBS and those of other hereditary retinal-renal conditions is suggested.