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Blepharophimosis-intellectual disability syndrome, SBBYS type is characterized by the association of congenital hypothyroidism, facial dysmorphism (microcephaly, blepharophimosis, a bulbous nose, thin lip, low-set ears and micrognathia), postaxial polydactyly and severe intellectual deficit. Less than 20 cases have been reported so far. Cryptorchidism is present in affected males. Some patients also have cardiac anomalies (interventricular communication), hypotonia and growth delay. Autosomal recessive inheritance has been suggested.
Features include always present findings: Severe intellectual disability; and very common findings: Low muscle tone (hypotonia), Feeding difficulties, and Cryptorchidism. 24 total HPO annotations.
Organ System | Phenotype Count | Example Features |
|---|---|---|
Head and neck | 3 | Thin upper lip vermilion, Microcephaly, Cleft palate |
Brain and nerves | 2 | Severe intellectual disability, Depressed nasal bridge |
Ears | 1 | Hearing loss (hearing impairment) |
Muscles | 1 | Low muscle tone (hypotonia) |
Heart and blood vessels | 1 | Enlarged and weakened heart (dilated cardiomyopathy) |
Digestive system | 1 | Feeding difficulties |
Hormones | 1 | Hypothyroidism |
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.
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.
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
KAT6B encodes lysine acetyltransferase 6B (2,073 aa). Histone acetyltransferase which may be involved in both positive and negative regulation of transcription. Required for RUNX2-dependent transcriptional activation.
Blepharophimosis - intellectual disability syndrome, SBBYS type is associated with mutations in the KAT6B gene on chromosome 10.
KAT6B is classified as a druggable target (Clinically Actionable and Enzyme categories) with score 10.4.
GPS. Most GPS-associated pathogenic variants cluster in KAT6B exon 18, the last exon, and are predicted to produce truncated proteins associated with a gain-of-function mechanism . Consistent with this hypothesis, pathogenic variants associated with more severe GPS phenotypes are located more proximally in exon 18 and are predicted to result in a more truncated protein. SBBYSS. SBBYS-causing pathogenic variants also occur most frequently in exon 18, but more distally than the GPS-associated variants. Recently, predicted loss-of-function variants in exons 3, 7, 11, and 14-17 were reported to be associated with the SBBYSS phenotype.
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
Penetrance appears to be complete since all individuals reported to date who carry a KAT6B pathogenic variant present a phenotype compatible with KAT6B disorders.
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
KAT6B disorders include genitopatellar syndrome (GPS) and Say-Barber-Biesecker variant of Ohdo syndrome (Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson syndrome; SBYSS).
A KAT6B disorder should be suspected in individuals with findings of either GPS or SBBYSS. Genitopatellar syndrome (GPS). While clinical diagnostic criteria have not been defined for genitopatellar syndrome, the authors propose that the following features should raise suspicion for this disorder. Individuals with two major features or one major feature and two minor features are likely to have a KAT6B disorder.
Table 1.
Features Suggestive of GPS
Category | Features
| • Genital anomalies (females: clitoromegaly /or hypoplasia of the labia minora or majora; males: cryptorchidism scrotal hypoplasia)
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
Table 4.
Genes of Interest in the Differential Diagnosis of KAT6B Disorders
Gene(s) | Differential Diagnosis Disorder | MOI | Clinical Features of Differential Diagnosis Disorder
Overlapping w/KAT6B Disorders | Not Observed in KAT6B Disorders
CDC45
CDC6
CDT1
GMNN
ORC1
ORC4
ORC6 | Meier-Gorlin syndrome (OMIM PS224690) | AR(AD) | Patellar aplasia or hypoplasia; microcephaly; genital anomalies; contractures | Severe intrauterine postnatal growth restriction; bilateral microtia
ERCC6
| Cerebrooculofacioskeletal syndrome (severe fetal form of Cockayne syndrome) | AR | Arthrogryposis; microcephaly; severe ID | Progressive neurodegenerative disorder; congenital cataracts facial dysmorphism
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
Genetic testing for KAT6B is available. Testing is considered confirmatory for diagnosis.
No approved treatments are currently available for blepharophimosis - intellectual disability syndrome, SBBYS type. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis To establish the extent of disease and needs of an individual diagnosed with KAT6B disorders, the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended. Table 5. Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with KAT6B Disorders
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Development | Developmental assessment | To incl motor, adaptive, cognitive, speech-language eval; Eval for early intervention / special education |
Neurologic | EEG if clinical suspicion of seizures | Assessment of corpus callosum anomalies other cerebral malformations |
Feeding | Gastroenterology / nutrition / feeding team eval | To incl eval of aspiration risk nutritional status; Consider eval for gastrostomy tube placement in patients w/dysphagia /or aspiration risk. Evaluate for anal anomalies. |
Cardiovascular | Eval by cardiologist for cardiovascular malformation | Include echocardiogram |
Genitourinary | Evaluate for genital anomalies in both males females. |
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
1 trial found
Table 7.
Recommended Periodic Surveillance for Individuals with KAT6B Disorders
System/Concern | Evaluation1
| Monitor developmental progress educational needs.
| EEG if clinical suspicion of seizures
| Evaluation of feeding symptoms suggestive of small bowel malrotation
| Follow up w/cardiologist if cardiac malformation present
| Renal function (if hydronephrosis or multiple renal cysts are present)
| Monitor for hearing loss.
| Evaluate for amblyopia.
| Thyroid function
| Physical medicine, OT/PT assessment of mobility, self-help skills
Follow up for scoliosis if vertebral anomalies are present
OT = occupational therapy; PT = physical therapy
1. Annual or as needed
Source: GeneReviews — "KAT6B Disorders"
Phenotype severity distribution: 1 always present feature, 3 very common features, 5 common features.
Estimated prevalence: <1 in 1,000,000 (VERY_RARE).
1 clinical trial registered, 1 recruiting. Interventions under study include other interventions. Research is primarily sponsored by academic and government institutions.
9 publications have been identified in PubMed for blepharophimosis - intellectual disability syndrome, SBBYS type. Research spans Case Report / Case Series (44%), Basic Science / Preclinical (33%), and Review / Meta-Analysis (11%).
Cherkaoui I (2026). [PMID: 41666144](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41666144/). *Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Zhong X (2025). [PMID: 40263164](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40263164/). *Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Bergamasco MI (2025). [PMID: 40083716](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40083716/). *iScience*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Rasmussen NB (2025). [PMID: 40441421](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40441421/). *European journal of medical genetics*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Maglione V (2025). [PMID: 40277451](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40277451/). *American journal of medical genetics. Part A*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Ura H (2025). [PMID: 39986017](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39986017/). *Stem cell research*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Bergamasco MI (2024). [PMID: 38557491](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38557491/). *The Journal of clinical investigation*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Back W (2024). [PMID: 39445296](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39445296/). *Cureus*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Horsthemke B (2024). [PMID: 38854642](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38854642/). *Medizinische Genetik : Mitteilungsblatt des Berufsverbandes Medizinische Genetik e.V*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Data assembled from 8 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 1:14 PM UTC
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
European rare disease database
Genetic and Rare Diseases Info Center
Hearing | Assess for hearing loss. | Audiologic eval |
Ocular | Assess lacrimal duct abnormalities, blepharophimosis, optic nerve anomalies, myopia, amblyopia. | Ophthalmologic eval |
Endocrine | Assess thyroid function. | — |
Musculoskeletal | Eval of contractures or malposition of knees/ feet/ankles upper limbs | Orthopedic eval if needed Eval of pelvic, spinal, or thoracic anomalies |
Respiratory | Evaluate for laryngomalacia. | Miscellaneous/ |
Other | Consultation w/clinical geneticist /or genetic counselor | To incl genetic counseling Further evidence of utility is required prior to recommending screening of all individuals with KAT6B disorder for small bowel malrotation with a barium enema study. |
Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with KAT6B Disorders Manifestation/Concern | Treatment | Considerations/Other |
DD/ID | See . | Poor weight |
gain | Feeding therapy; gastrostomy tube placement may be required for persistent feeding issues. | Low threshold for clinical feeding evaluation /or radiographic swallowing study when showing clinical signs or symptoms of dysphagia |
Contractures | Orthopedics / physical medicine rehabilitation / PT / OT incl surgical release of contractures, stretching to increase joint mobility | Consider need for positioning mobility devices, disability parking placard. Family/ Community |