Eagle-Barrett syndrome: occurrence and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the occurence and outcomes of African babies born with features of Eagle-Barret syndrome at a tertiary health centre.

DESIGN

Case series.

SETTING

University Teaching Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.

SUBJECTS: Patients were identified through a retrospective review of obstetric records of mothers admitted at the centre within the period 1984 to 1996 inclusive. A total of eleven cases were identified over a period of thirteen years.

RESULTS

The most prominent associated defects consisted of clubfoot, pulmonary hypoplasia, Potter's facies, imperforate anus and arthrogryposis. None of our patients survived the perinatal period.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates the need for the establishment of a prenatal and cytogenetic infrastructure in Cameroon to enhance early detection of congenital malformation and chromosomal aberrations. In the meantime, early detection of foetuses with Eagle-Barret syndrome using ultrasound could facilitate timely institutions of antenatal management options and lead to favourable birth outcomes of affected babies.