From Genotype to Phenotype-A Review of Kabuki Syndrome

Abstract

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare neuro-developmental disorder caused by variants in genes of histone modification, including KMT2D and KDM6A. This review assesses our current understanding of KS, which was originally named Niikawa-Kuroki syndrome, and aims to guide surveillance and medical care of affected individuals as well as identify gaps in knowledge and unmet patient needs. Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from 1981 to 2021 to identify reports related to genotype and systems-based phenotype characterization of KS. A total of 2418 articles were retrieved, and 152 were included in this review, representing a total of 1369 individuals with KS. Genotype, phenotype, and the developmental and behavioral profile of KS are reviewed. There is a continuous clinical phenotype spectrum associated with KS with notable variability between affected individuals and an emerging genotype-phenotype correlation. The observed clinical variability may be attributable to differences in genotypes and/or unknown genetic and epigenetic factors. Clinical management is symptom oriented, fragmented, and lacks established clinical care standards. Additional research should focus on enhancing understanding of the burden of illness, the impact on quality of life, the adult phenotype, life expectancy and development of standard-of-care guidelines.

Keywords: KDM6A; KMT2D; Kabuki syndrome; Niikawa–Kuroki syndrome; transcription.

Figure 1

Evolution of facial features of a patient with a pathogenic variant in KMT2D at 6 months (A), 12 months (B), 3 years (C), 5 years (D), 10 years (E), and 19 years (F). (Photos shown with permission of the patient and parents).