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Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS) is a rare congenital multi-systemic genetic disorder characterized by aplasia or hypoplasia of the distal phalanx or nail of the fifth digit, developmental delay, intellectual disability, coarse facial features, and other variable clinical manifestations.
Features include very common findings: Wide mouth, Thick lower lip vermilion, Coarse facial features, and Thick eyebrow and others; and common findings: Cryptorchidism, Abnormality of the genitourinary system, Thin upper lip vermilion, and Broad philtrum and others. 65 total HPO annotations.
Organ System | Phenotype Count | Example Features |
|---|---|---|
Brain and nerves | 8 | Atypical behavior, Seizure, Moderate intellectual disability |
No consensus clinical diagnostic criteria for Coffin-Siris syndrome (CCS) have been published.
CSS should be suspected in individuals with the following clinical findings and family history:
Clinical findings
Source: GeneReviews — "Coffin-Siris Syndrome"
No approved treatments are currently available for Coffin-Siris syndrome. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
Gene therapy approaches for Coffin-Siris syndrome have been reported in the published literature.
Several publications have recommended various medical surveillance guidelines for individuals with Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS) . However, as clinical variability between individuals is high, clinicians are encouraged to use their own clinical judgment when evaluating and managing these individuals.
To monitor existing manifestations, the individual's response to supportive care, and the emergence of new manifestations, the evaluations summarized in are recommended. Table 7. Coffin-Siris Syndrome: Recommended Surveillance
No clinical trials have been registered for Coffin-Siris syndrome.
71 publications have been identified in PubMed for Coffin-Siris syndrome. Research spans Case Report / Case Series (49%), Basic Science / Preclinical (28%), and Review / Meta-Analysis (8%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Patient case studies | 35 | 49% |
Data assembled from 5 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 11:55 PM UTC
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Head and neck | 5 | Thick lower lip vermilion, Coarse facial features, Thin upper lip vermilion |
Eyes | 3 | Strabismus, Visual impairment, Ptosis |
Bones and joints | 3 | Joint hypermobility, Sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis), Delayed skeletal maturation |
Growth and development | 3 | Growth delay, Postnatal growth retardation, Intrauterine growth retardation |
Heart and blood vessels | 3 | Abnormal heart morphology, Ventricular septal defect, Atrial septal defect |
Arms and legs | 3 | Hypoplastic fifth fingernail, Short 5th finger, Hypoplastic fifth toenail |
Digestive system | 2 | Feeding difficulties, Hepatoblastoma |
Kidneys and urinary system | 2 | Abnormality of the genitourinary system, Horseshoe kidney |
Blood and immune system | 2 | Recurrent infections, Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections |
Lungs and breathing | 2 | Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, Aspiration pneumonia |
Skin | 1 | Small nail |
Ears | 1 | Hearing loss (hearing impairment) |
Hormones | 1 | Papillary thyroid carcinoma |
Age of onset: at birth.
The clinical manifestations of Coffin-Siris syndrome have expanded over the years as greater phenotypic variability has been recognized. Classically, the syndrome was first identified by the absence or underdevelopment of the fifth digit finger/toe or nail. Additional "classic" features have included sparse scalp hair, hypertrichosis, learning and developmental differences, and various organ system-related anomalies. As genetic technology has evolved, more individuals with subtle physical exam findings are being diagnosed with CSS. To date, at least 550 individuals have been identified with a diagnosis of Coffin-Siris syndrome, including those enrolled in the Coffin-Siris syndrome/ BAF complex registry [; ; ; ; ; ; S Schrier Vergano, unpublished data]. ARID1B has been reported in around 1% of cohorts of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorder . The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports. Table 2. Select Features of Coffin-Siris Syndrome
Feature | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Developmental delay/ intellectual disability | 98% | Typically in the moderate-to-severe range |
Feeding problems | 90% | — |
Hypotonia | 75% | — |
Hypoplasia of the fifth digits/nails1 | 65%-80% | Some individuals with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of CSS have little or no fifth digit involvement. |
Dysmorphic facial features | 65% | ~30% at birth. Because facial features typically coarsen over time, the characteristic facies may not be apparent until later in childhood. |
Frequent infections | 60% | — |
Other skeletal findings | 40%-60% | Including joint laxity and scoliosis |
Epilepsy | 50% | — |
Hearing impairment | 45% | Both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss has been reported. |
Eye issues | ~40% | Ptosis, strabismus, myopia |
Congenital heart defects | 35% | — |
Genitourinary malformations | 33% | — |
Behavioral issues | 25% | May include hyperactivity /or aggressiveness Typically, individuals with a clinical diagnosis of CSS have either aplasia or hypoplasia of the distal phalanx or absence of the nail, classically involving the fifth finger, but other digits may also be affected. |
Source: GeneReviews — "Coffin-Siris Syndrome"
Genes of interest in the differential diagnosis of Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS) are listed in . Table 4. Genes of Interest in the Differential Diagnosis of Coffin-Siris Syndrome
Gene(s) | Disorder | MOI | Clinical Characteristics | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SMC3 | Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) | ADXL1 | Severe (classic) CdLS is characterized by distinctive facial features, growth restriction, hypertrichosis, upper limb reduction defects that range from subtle phalangeal abnormalities to oligodactyly (missing digits). | CdLS-related limb anomalies may incl 5th finger hypoplasia similar to CSS. |
PHF6 | Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome (OMIM 301900) | XL | See . | See . |
PIGV | Mabry syndrome (OMIM 239300) | AR | DD, seizures, coarse facial features, hypoplastic 5th digits, serum concentrations of ALP | — |
SMARCA2 | Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome (NCBRS) | AD | See . | See . |
TBC1D24 | DOORS syndrome (See TBC1D24-Related Disorders.) | AR | Deafness, onychodystrophy, osteodystrophy, ID, seizures | Features in common w/CSS incl hypoplastic terminal phalanges /or nail anomalies, deafness, neurologic abnormalities. |
Source: GeneReviews — "Coffin-Siris Syndrome"
Biomarker and diagnostic research for Coffin-Siris syndrome has been reported in the published literature.
To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with CSS, the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to diagnosis) are recommended.
Table 5:
Coffin-Siris Syndrome: Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment
| Measurement of growth parameters | To assess for growth restriction or poor growth in younger persons obesity in adults
| Neurologic eval to incl assessment for signs symptoms of seizures/tics | • To incl brain MRI if clinically indicated
Consider EEG if seizures are a concern.
| Developmental assessment | • To incl motor, adaptive, cognitive, speech-language eval
Eval for early intervention/ special education
Neurobehavioral/
| Neuropsychiatric eval | For persons age 12 mos: screening for concerns incl ADHD, aggression, /or findings suggestive of ASD
| Assessment for signs symptoms of sleep disturbance | Consider referral to sleep medicine clinic /or sleep study.
| Orthopedics/ physical medicine rehab/ PT OT eval | To incl assessment of:
Source: GeneReviews — "Coffin-Siris Syndrome"
View trials for Coffin-Siris syndrome
Evaluation |
|---|
Frequency |
|---|
Eyes | Ophthalmology eval vision assessment | Annually or as clinically indicated Hearing |
Dental | Dental eval | At least every 6 mos in those w/teeth |
Oncology | Consider serum AFP level liver ultrasound in those who have a pathogenic variant in ARID1A1 | Every 3 mos until age 4 yrs ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; AFP = alpha-fetoprotein; ASD = autism spectrum disorder; OT = occupational therapy; PT = physical therapy 1. Because of the rarity of tumors in CSS, the utility of tumor surveillance is unclear. |
Source: GeneReviews — "Coffin-Siris Syndrome"
Phenotype severity distribution: 8 very common features, 37 common features.
Estimated prevalence: <1 in 1,000,000 (VERY_RARE).
20 |
28% |
Research summaries | 6 | 8% |
Disease patterns and progression | 5 | 7% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 2 | 3% |
Other research | 1 | 1% |
Clinical study results | 1 | 1% |
New treatment approaches | 1 | 1% |
Kolkiran A (2026). [PMID: 41795723](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41795723/). *European journal of pediatrics*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Wang H (2026). [PMID: 41595501](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41595501/). *Genes*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Fabre A (2026). [PMID: 42156711](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42156711/). *Transl Psychiatry*. [Diagnostic / Biomarker]
Qian X (2026). [PMID: 41765118](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41765118/). *Gene*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Singh V (2026). [PMID: 41711526](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41711526/). *Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Chesneau B (2026). [PMID: 41568967](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41568967/). *Clinical genetics*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Ge Y (2026). [PMID: 41545737](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41545737/). *European journal of pediatrics*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Somayyeh Heidargholizadeh G (2026). [PMID: 41454640](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41454640/). *Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Ou S (2026). [PMID: 41532374](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41532374/). *Molecular genetics & genomic medicine*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Zhong S (2026). [PMID: 42091196](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42091196/). *Zhonghua Yi Xue Yi Chuan Xue Za Zhi*. [Case Report / Case Series]