Clinical Description
Genitopatellar syndrome (GPS) and Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson syndrome (SBBYSS) are part of a broad phenotypic spectrum, and the variable expressivity of KAT6B disorders is being increasingly recognized. Individuals presenting with a phenotype intermediate between GPS and SBBYSS have been reported in the past years.
Genitopatellar Syndrome (GPS)
Skeletal features. Patellae are either absent or hypoplastic in the majority of individuals. In a minority, the patellae are dislocated but not hypoplastic. Note: In normal individuals, the patellae begin ossifying between ages 1.5 and four years in females and ages 2.5 and six years in males. Before that, they are cartilaginous and can be imaged by ultrasound.
Club feet and flexion contractures of the knees and/or hips are also present in nearly all individuals with GPS and constitute major features of this syndrome. This can significantly hinder mobility, especially since the knees in some cases cannot be extended beyond 90 degrees. Most of the musculoskeletal findings in GPS involve the lower extremities, but contractures of the wrists or elbows have also been observed in two affected individuals [Authors, personal observation].
Other skeletal anomalies are occasionally seen in affected individuals. Spinal anomalies resulting in thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis have been observed in 11% of individuals reported in the literature. Some have thoracic anomalies such as narrow thorax, pectus excavatum, the presence of small cervical ribs, absence of a pair of ribs, and clavicular exostoses.
Pelvic anomalies include hip dislocations and hypoplasia of the iliac bone, ischia, and pubic rami.
Rare musculoskeletal findings include osteoporosis, radioulnar synostosis, radial head deformity, brachydactyly, camptodactyly, short stature, joint laxity, undertubulation of long bones, and coxa vara.
Neurologic features. Developmental delay and/or intellectual disability are noted in nearly all individuals diagnosed to date. The delay is global (motor and intellectual) and usually severe; some can communicate through vocalization, manipulate objects, and ambulate with walkers or tricycles. Behavioral and/or psychiatric issues (e.g., features suggestive of autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, aggressive behavior, and attention problems) have been noted.
Nearly all individuals with GPS have agenesis or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. Seizures, cortical malformations, hydrocephaly, or ventriculomegaly have also been described in some affected individuals.
Some have hypotonia at birth, resulting in respiratory and feeding difficulties that can require invasive procedures (see Management). Laryngomalacia may exacerbate these difficulties. Both the feeding and respiratory difficulties often resolve in infancy; hypotonia of the extremities with hypertonia of the trunk has been described in older children.
Most have microcephaly, with occipitofrontal circumferences (OFCs) typically 2 SD (and occasionally 3 SD) below the mean.
Genital anomalies. Genitourinary anomalies are frequently present in individuals affected by GPS. In males, this can include cryptorchidism, retractile testis, scrotal hypoplasia, micropenis, unilateral testicular agenesis and hypospadias. Most females have clitoromegaly and/or hypoplasia of the labia (minora or majora). Delayed puberty with primary amenorrhea has also been reported [Okano et al 2018].
Renal anomalies. Many individuals affected by GPS have renal anomalies, especially hydronephrosis and multicystic kidneys. Renal anomalies resulting in renal failure and oligohydramnios sequence have been observed in three affected individuals who died in the neonatal period [Kim et al 2019; Authors, personal observation].
Anal anomalies. Anal atresia or stenosis and an anteriorly positioned anus are occasionally seen in GPS.
Facial features. Individuals with GPS can have bitemporal narrowing, prominent eyes (proptosis), and a nose with either a bulbous end or a broad or prominent base. Other features that can be common in both GPS and SBBYSS include low-set and posteriorly rotated ears, prominent cheeks, downslanting palpebral fissures, flat broad nasal bridge, long philtrum, thin upper lip, thin lip vermilion, and micro/retrognathia. See .
Photographs of 11 individuals with a KAT6B pathogenic variant Arrows point to the relative location of an individual's pathogenic variant in the schematic of the last KAT6B exon (exon 18), the distal part of which encodes the activation domain. Photographs (more...)
Cancer. Knight et al reported a child with GPS who developed a stage one neuroblastoma extending into the portal vein. While it was poorly differentiated, it had an overall favorable histopathology [Knight et al 2018].
Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-SImpson Variant of Ohdo Syndrome (SBBYSS)
Neurologic features. Affected individuals generally have some degree of developmental delay and/or intellectual disability. Milder cases have recently been described, where the pathogenic variant was inherited from an affected parent [Kim et al 2017, Yates et al 2019]. A language disorder is present in many affected individuals. Behavioral and/or psychiatric issues such as features suggestive of autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, aggressive behavior, and attention problems have been noted. A few affected individuals have agenesis or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum or other cerebral anomalies. 36% of reported cases have microcephaly.
Some neonates have hypotonia, with feeding and respiratory difficulties requiring hospitalization.
Ocular anomalies. Visual deficits and a variety of ocular anomalies have been reported in a large number of affected individuals. Blepharophimosis is a major feature of SBBYSS and it can impact visual function. Lacrimal duct anomalies, mainly dacryostenosis, are found in many individuals with SBBYSS and with an intermediate phenotype. Cortical visual impairment, optic atrophy or hypoplasia has also been described. Myopia and amblyopia are common. Telecanthus, epicanthus inversus, and hypertelorism are also sometimes noted
Skeletal features. Most individuals have long thumbs and great toes. Other digital malformations have been observed, including preaxial or postaxial polydactyly, camptodactyly, clinodactyly, bradydactyly, and syndactyly of toes. Some have patellar anomalies similar to those seen in GPS (i.e., aplasia or hypoplasia). Club feet and flexion contractures of the knees and/or hips are occasionally observed in some individuals.
Genital anomalies. Genital anomalies including cryptorchidism, hypospadias, clitoromegaly, and/or hypoplasia of the labia minora or majora are observed in approximately 40% of reported affected individuals with the SBBYSS phenotype.
Facial features. Facial appearance is distinctive with a mask-like facies, blepharophimosis, and ptosis. Other features that can be common in both GPS and SBBYSS include prominent cheeks, low-set and posteriorly rotated ears, downslanting palpebral fissures, flat broad nasal bridge, tubular/bulbous nose, long philtrum, thin upper lip, thin lip vermilion, and micro-/retrognathia. See .
Other Features Observed in Individuals with Either the GPS or SBBYSS Phenotype
More than 50% of individuals with KAT6B disorders have congenital heart defects. These include mainly atrial and/or ventricular septal defects, patent foramen ovale and patent ductus arteriosus.
Small bowel malrotation has been described in eight affected individuals [Campeau et al 2012a; Gannon et al 2015; Okano et al 2018; Authors, personal observation].
Most affected individuals present with feeding difficulties and pathologic gastroesophageal reflux.
Growth restriction, short stature, failure to thrive/poor weight gain and delayed bone age have been reported in 18% of affected individuals.
Cleft palate has been reported in one third of affected individuals [Clayton-Smith et al 2011]. Pierre Robin sequence (defined as microretrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate) has previously been observed in five affected individuals [Lonardo et al 2019; Authors, personal observation].
Bilateral hearing loss, both conductive and sensorineural, is often present.
Occasional dental anomalies including natal teeth, absent/hypoplastic teeth, retained primary dentition, and delayed eruption of teeth are mostly seen in in individuals with SBBYSS.
A minority of individuals have hypothyroidism – some of them having thyroid agenesis or hypoplasia.
Polyhydramnios can complicate the pregnancy of fetuses affected with KAT6B disorders. Increased nuchal translucency and/or cystic hygroma have also been observed in four affected individuals [Authors, personal observation].
Sagittal craniosynostosis was noted in two individuals with the intermediate phenotype [Bashir et al 2017]
Cutaneous manifestations are rarely observed in individuals with KAT6B disorders. Abnormal palmar creases, widely spaced nipples, hypoplastic nails, and café au lait macules have been reported in a few affected individuals.
Nomenclature
GPS. The term "genitopatellar syndrome" was coined by Valérie Cormier-Daire [Cormier-Daire et al 2000].
SBBYSS.
Ohdo et al [1986] first described a family in which children had blepharophimosis, ptosis, congenital heart defects, intellectual disability, and hypoplastic teeth.
Subsequently, the Young-Simpson syndrome was described [Young & Simpson 1987]. Later the Young-Simpson syndrome was renamed the Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson (SBBYS) variant of Ohdo syndrome (SBBYSS) [Say & Barber 1987, Biesecker 1991], which is discussed in this GeneReview.
Of note, the disorder described by Ohdo was distinct from the SBBYS variant of Ohdo syndrome because the facial features differed, proteinuria was present, and skeletal anomalies were absent; the mode of inheritance appeared to be autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant with reduced penetrance, or multifactorial.