RENAL DYSPLASIA ASSOCIATED WITH IN-UTERO EXPOSURE TO GENTAMICIN AND CORTICOSTEROIDS

We report on a patient with renal cystic dysplasia, whose mother was g iven gentamicin and corticosteroids early in pregnancy. We speculate t hat these drugs may be implicated in abnormal nephrogenesis in humans. This speculation is based on gentamicin-induced small kidneys (oligon ephronia) in the rat. Renal cystic disease has been demonstrated follo wing glucocorticoid administration early in gestation. We realize that there is no proof for a causal relationship between gentamicin and/or glucocorticolds in the pathogenesis of this patient's renal disease. However, it is possible that renal cystic dysplasia in humans is not s olely the result of a genetic defect. (C) 1995 WiIey-Liss, Inc.