Multiple congenital anomalies associated with oligohydramnios

ABSTRACT

The necropsy examination of two cases with multiple congenital anomalies is presented. Each of the two cases was the product of a pregnancy which was complicated by oligohydramnios. Some of the anomalies seen in the two cases are postulated to result from an early constraint defect secondary to the associated oligohydramnios. Speculation of the possible underlying etiology is discussed and review of the literature is given. A congenital defect is not necessarily the result of a single etiological factor but may be influenced by hereditary or genetic and / or environmental influences. At present it is estimated that approximately ten percent of all known human malformations are caused by environmental factors and another ten percent by genetic factors; the remaining 80 percent are undefined and presumably caused by the intricate interplay of both genetic and environmental factors.] This paper reports two cases with multiple congenital anomalies which are presumed to be the outcome of both genetic and mechanical environmental factors acting during early development