J Genet Med.  2010 Jun;7(1):37-44.

Phenotypic and Cytogenetic Delineation of Six Korean Children with Kabuki Syndrome

• Ko JM
• Hwang JM
• Kim HJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
Kabuki syndrome is a multiple congenital malformation syndrome with mental retardation. It was named after its characteristic appearance, a face resembling that of an actor in a Kabuki play. To date, six Korean cases of Kabuki syndrome have ever been reported. Here, we present the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of six patients with Kabuki syndrome.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between 2003 and 2009, six Korean girls have been diagnosed and followed up as Kabuki syndrome at Center for Genetic Diseases of Ajou University Hospital. Their clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed by the retrospective review of medical records.
RESULTS
All six patients showed the characteristic facial dysmorphism and developmental delay. Persistent fingertip pads were also found in all patients. Most patients showed postnatal growth retardation (83.3%) and hypotonia (83.3%). Opthalmologic problems were common, particularly for strabismus (83.3%). Congenital heart defects were present in three patients (50%). Skeletal abnormalities including 5th finger shortening (83.3%), clinodactyly (50%), joint hypermobility (50%) and hip dislocation (16.7%) were also observed. There was no patient who had positive family history for Kabuki syndrome. Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analyses including karyotyping and array CGH could not reveal any underlying genetic cause of Kabuki syndrome.
CONCLUSION
Korean patients with Kabuki syndrome showed a broad spectrum of clinical features affecting multiple organ systems. Although clinical manifestations of Kabuki syndrome have been well established, our results failed to detect recurrent chromosome aberrations which could cause Kabuki syndrome. Its natural history and genetic background remains to be further studied for providing appropriate management and genetic counseling.

Keyword

Kabuki syndrome; Dysmorphism; Long palpebral fissure; Fetal pad; Mental retardation; Strabismus

MeSH Terms

Abnormalities, Multiple
Child
Chromosome Aberrations
Cytogenetic Analysis
Cytogenetics
Face
Fingers
Genetic Counseling
Heart Defects, Congenital
Hematologic Diseases
Hip Dislocation
Humans
Intellectual Disability
Joint Instability
Karyotyping
Medical Records
Muscle Hypotonia
Natural History
Retrospective Studies
Strabismus
Vestibular Diseases
Abnormalities, Multiple
Face
Hematologic Diseases
Vestibular Diseases