Triploidy in man: a clearly recognizable syndrome?

Complete triploidy in a 13-week-old fetus and in a full-term liveborn infant is described. A previous pregnancy of one of the mothers had resulted in a hydatidiform mole. Hydatidiform degeneration of the placenta of triploid abortuses and newborn infants may be responsible for the intrauterine growth retardation and fetal death often observed. Although many phenotypic features are common in triploidy, a review of the literature indicated that a pathognomonic syndrome could not be delineated. Nevertheless, a certain combination of findings may be suggestive of the diagnosis.