OUTCOME OF ANTENATALLY DETECTED CYSTIC DYSPLASTIC KIDNEY-DISEASE

Forty four fetuses with multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) disease r ecognised on antenatal ultrasound were studied prospectively. In nine aborted fetuses and in five who died in the neonatal period the MCDK d isease was bilateral or there were associated lethal abnormalities or syndromes. All surviving infants had unilateral disease and in six (20 %) there was significant reflux into the normal contralateral kidney. Since 1988 the management of unilateral MCDK disease has been conserva tive with no child developing sepsis, hypertension, or malignancy. Ser ial ultrasound examinations suggest that MCDK lesions involute with ti me and conservative rather than operative management is favoured.