Lack of associated renal anomalies in familial polythelia.

Abstract

<i>Sir</i>.—Recent articles have addressed the possible association of supernumerary nipples with renal anomalies. Kenney et al,¹examining Israeli infants, and Mimouni et al,²examining American term neonates, demonstrated no associated renal anomalies with isolated supernumerary nipples. However, Hersh et al³examined dysmorphic American children and Varsano et al⁴examined Israeli children referred to an emergency department. They demonstrated associated renal anomalies in 11% and 23%, respectively, of those children with a supernumerary nipple. A recent study by Meggyessy and Mehes⁵demonstrated renal abnormalities in 6 (8%) of 78 Hungarian patients hospitalized for illnesses unrelated to the urinary tract and healthy newborn infants. A limited number of instances of familial polythelia have been reported. Hersh et al³described two parentchild pairs with polythelia. Klinkerfuss⁶found polymastia with inconsistent polythelia in five females in four generations. <i>Patient Report</i>.—We report a case of an American