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Living with Holzgreve-Wagner-Rehder syndrome

A rare genetic condition seen before birth, with low amniotic fluid, heart defects, cleft palate, extra fingers, and bone differences.

Understanding Holzgreve-Wagner-Rehder syndrome

Holzgreve-Wagner-Rehder syndrome is a rare genetic condition with several birth differences.

It includes Potter sequence, which involves low amniotic fluid and small kidneys or lungs. It also includes a heart defect, cleft palate, extra fingers, and bone differences. It may be seen during pregnancy or in newborns.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios)
  • Small or missing kidneys
  • Small or missing lungs
  • Cleft palate
  • Extra fingers (polydactyly)
  • Slow growth before birth

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include ear, nose, and throat specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    World Craniofacial Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Ear, nose, and throat specialists (otolaryngologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: World Craniofacial Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with World Craniofacial Foundation and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
What can prenatal imaging tell us?
Which specialists should be on our care team?
Would genetic counseling help with future pregnancies?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy and as a Newborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

Changes in genes (also called variants) cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

Genetic

Also known as: cleft palate-potter sequence-congenital heart anomalies-mesoaxial polydactyly-multiple malformations syndrome; cleft palate, potter sequence, congenital heart anomalies, mesoaxial polydactyly, multiple malformations syndrome; holzgreve syndrome; holzgreve wagner rehder syndrome

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Holzgreve-Wagner-Rehder syndromeGARD ID 2728 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Holzgreve-Wagner-Rehder syndrome.

Explore the Holzgreve-Wagner-Rehder syndrome blog

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  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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