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Prune belly syndrome

Definition

Prune belly syndrome is a group of birth abnormalities marked by three major findings:

  • Lack of development of abdominal muscles, causing the skin of the belly area to wrinkle like a prune
  • Undescended testicles
  • Urinary tract problems

Alternative Names

Eagle-Barrett syndrome

Causes

The underlying causes of prune belly syndrome are unknown. It affects mostly boys.

When in the womb, the developing baby's abdomen swells with fluid. That fluid disappears after birth, leading to a wrinkled abdomen that looks like a prune. The appearance is more noticeable because of the lack of enough abdominal muscles.

Review Date: 10/11/2007
Reviewed By: Deirdre O’Reilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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