Introduction:
Acral (limb) and renal anomalies occur together as a
single developmental field defect (DFC)1 or as
components of several malformation syndromes. The
embryogenesis of that defect was studied experimentally
by Lash2 and the developmental relationship between
kidneys and limbs has been reviewed by Buchta3 and
Gilbert4. In 1980, Halal et al. first described the
association of bilateral split foot malformation, severe
mandibular hypoplasia and bilateral renal malformation
in female sibs born to consanguineous French- Canadian
parents. Bilateral renal agenesis was found in one sib
and bilateral polycystic kidneys in the other5.These
authors proposed the name acro-renal-mandibular
syndrome (ARMS) for the condition and considered it
most likely that the mechanism of inheritance was
autosomal recessive.