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Features include always present findings: Narrow mouth, Sparse eyebrow, Nystagmus, and Absent speech and others; and very common findings: Retrognathia, Abnormal optic nerve morphology, Damage to the optic nerve (optic atrophy), and Arachnodactyly and others. 90 total HPO annotations.
Organ System | Phenotype Count | Example Features |
|---|---|---|
Head and neck | 8 | Microcephaly, Thin upper lip vermilion, High palate |
Brain and nerves | 7 | Absent speech, Severe intellectual disability, Enlarged brain ventricles (ventriculomegaly) |
Eyes | 6 | Strabismus, Nystagmus, Ptosis |
Muscles | 5 | Low muscle tone (hypotonia), Generalized hypotonia, Axial hypotonia |
Digestive system | 4 | Constipation, Feeding difficulties in infancy, Intestinal malrotation |
Lungs and breathing | 4 | Neonatal respiratory distress, Dyspnea, Respiratory distress |
Growth and development | 3 | Short stature, Failure to thrive, Growth delay |
Pregnancy and birth | 2 | Congenital hip dislocation, Neonatal respiratory distress |
Arms and legs | 2 | Clinodactyly of the 5th finger, Long foot |
Skin | 2 | Thin skin, Preauricular skin tag |
Heart and blood vessels | 2 | Ventricular septal defect, Atrial septal defect |
Blood and immune system | 1 | Recurrent infections |
Bones and joints | 1 | Ovoid vertebral bodies |
Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome (KOS) is characterized by prenatal-onset microcephaly, growth deficiency, developmental delay, severe intellectual disability, and distinct facial features. To date, 36 individuals have been identified with biallelic pathogenic variants in UBE3B [, , , , , , , , ]. Six additional individuals with characteristic clinical features that did not have molecular confirmation have been described . The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports. Table 2. Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome: Frequency of Select Features
Feature | % of Personsw/Feature | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Developmental delay / intellectual disability | 100% | Usually severe to profound |
Hypotonia |
UBE3B function has not been fully characterized.
Oculocerebrofacial syndrome, Kaufman type is caused by mutations in the UBE3B gene on chromosome 12.
It is not possible to draw conclusions regarding genotype-phenotype correlations until more individuals are reported.
Source: GeneReviews — "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome"
No consensus clinical diagnostic criteria for Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome (KOS) have been published.
KOS should be suspected in individuals with the following clinical and supportive laboratory findings.
Clinical findings
Source: GeneReviews — "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome"
Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome (KOS) has a relatively uniform, clinically recognizable phenotype mainly due to the characteristic dysmorphic features combined with severe intellectual disability . Because of the co-occurrence of blepharophimosis and intellectual disability, the differential diagnosis mainly includes (besides small chromosomal deletions or duplications identified by chromosomal microarray analysis) other mendelian blepharophimosis-intellectual disability syndromes; see . Table 3. Disorders of Interest in the Differential Diagnosis of Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome (KOS)
Gene / Genetic Mechanism | DiffDx Disorder | MOI | Clinical Features of DiffDx Disorder |
|---|---|---|---|
Overlapping w/KOS | Distinguishing from KOS 3pter-p25 deletion | Chromosome 3pter-p25 deletion syndrome (OMIM 613792) | AD |
BRPF1 | Intellectual developmental disorder w/dysmorphic facies ptosis (OMIM 617333) | AD1 | Blepharophimosis; ophthalmologic anomalies; ID/DD; callosal malformations; seizures; hypotonia; feeding difficulties; clubfoot |
Genetic testing for UBE3B is available. Testing is considered confirmatory for diagnosis.
No approved treatments are currently available for oculocerebrofacial syndrome, Kaufman type. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
No clinical practice guidelines for Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome (KOS) have been published. Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with KOS, the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended. Table 4. Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Neurologic | Neurologic eval | Consider EEG if seizures are a concern. |
Development | Developmental assessment | To incl motor, adaptive, cognitive, speech-language eval; Eval for early intervention / special education |
Growth | Growth assessment | Gastrointestinal/ Feeding |
Eyes | Ophthalmologic eval | To assess for microcornea, cataract, ptosis, coloboma, refractive errors, strabismus |
Hearing | Audiologic eval | To assess for conductive, sensorineural, mixed hearing impairment Respiratory |
Source: GeneReviews — "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome"
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 — "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome"
View trials for oculocerebrofacial syndrome, Kaufman type
Table 6. Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome
System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
Development | Monitor developmental progress educational needs. | At each visit Neurologic |
Eyes | Vision assessment | At least annually Hearing |
Respiratory | Assess for noisy breathing, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory infections. | At each visit |
Cardiac | Follow up per cardiologist | At least annually for those w/hypertrophy |
Musculoskeletal | Assess for torticollis, contractures, /or scoliosis. | At least annually |
Endocrine | Follow up per endocrinologist | — |
Source: GeneReviews — "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome"
Phenotype severity distribution: 18 always present features, 12 very common features, 23 common features.
Estimated prevalence: <1 in 1,000,000 (VERY_RARE).
No clinical trials have been registered for oculocerebrofacial syndrome, Kaufman type.
2 publications have been identified in PubMed for oculocerebrofacial syndrome, Kaufman type. Kisho has analyzed 1 by research type. Research spans Case Report / Case Series (100%).
Abdelfattah AS (2025). [PMID: 41318572](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41318572/). *Mol Cytogenet*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Data assembled from 8 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 4:31 PM UTC
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
European rare disease database
Genetic and Rare Diseases Info Center
— |
Microcephaly | ~90% | Typically, prenatal onset (60% present at birth) |
Brain malformation | 70%-75% | Brain imaging was not performed in all individuals. |
Growth deficiency | 80%-90% | 40%-50% are small for gestational age. |
Feeding difficulties | ~90% | — |
Distinct facial features | 80%-90% | ~90% have blepharophimosis/ptosis. |
Ocular abnormalities | 80%-90% | — |
Hearing impairment | 60% | — |
Respiratory difficulties | ~50%-60% | — |
Ectodermal anomalies | 35%-45% | Sparse hair 20%-45%; nail dysplasia ~15% |
Cardiac involvement | ~30% | Congenital malformations obstructive hypertrophy |
Skeletal abnormalities | ~20% | — |
Low serum cholesterol | ~50% | Total, HDL, /or LDL; Postnatal microcephaly is frequently present and more than 60% of affected children have prenatal microcephaly or a small occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) at birth (10th centile), which in most individuals persists postnatally . |
Source: GeneReviews — "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome"
Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome | AR | Growth restriction; microcephaly; moderate-to-severe ID; cleft palate; cardiac defects | Characteristic facial features (narrow forehead, epicanthal folds, ptosis, short nose w/anteverted nares, short mandible w/preservation of jaw width, nevus simplex over the nasal root that extends onto the glabella); underdeveloped external genitalia in males; 2-3 toe syndactyly |
KAT6B | Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson variant of Ohdo syndrome (See KAT6B Disorders.) | AD1 | Heart defects; hearing loss; optic atrophy; cleft palate; dental anomalies incl small pointed teeth |
Source: GeneReviews — "Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome"
Echocardiogram |
To assess for congenital heart defects obstructive hypertrophy Genitourinary |
counseling | By genetics professionals1 | To inform affected persons families re nature, MOI, implications of KOS in order to facilitate medical personal decision making Family support resources |
Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial Syndrome Manifestation/Concern | Treatment | Considerations/Other Developmental delay / |
Intellectual disability | See . | — |
Epilepsy | Standardized treatment w/ASM by experienced neurologist | Many ASMs may be effective; none has been demonstrated effective specifically for KOS.; Education of parents/caregivers1 Feeding issues / poor |
weight gain | Feeding therapy; gastrostomy tube placement may be required for persistent feeding issues. | Low threshold for clinical feeding eval /or radiographic swallowing study if clinical signs or symptoms of dysphagia Ophthalmologic |
involvement | Treatment per ophthalmologist | Cataract ptosis surgery if indicated; Treatment of refractive errors /or strabismus Low vision services |
Hearing impairment | Hearing aids or cochlear implant if needed | Community hearing services through early intervention or school district |
Respiratory problems | Multidisciplinary team of pulmonologist, ENT specialist, infectious diseases specialist, intensive care specialist | Tracheostomy placement if needed, laryngeal reconstruction, mandibular advancement, mechanical ventilation support if needed, mechanical aids for obstructive sleep apnea.; Aggressive treatment of respiratory infections to prevent deterioration of respiratory function |
Cardiac anomalies | Treatment per cardiologist | — |
Genital anomalies | Orchidopexy in males w/undescended testes | — |
Renal anomalies | Treatment of vesicoureteral reflux if indicated | Skeletal |
Endocrine | Thyroid hormone replacement as needed | — |
Cleft palate | Surgical repair if present | ASM = anti-seizure medication; KOS = Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome; PT = physical therapy Developmental Delay / Intellectual Disability Management... |