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$Unique_ID{BRK03583}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome}
$Subject{Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome Cerebrooculofacioskeletal
Syndrome COFS Syndrome Pena Shokeir II Syndrome Cockayne Syndrome Neu-Laxova
Syndrome Potter Syndrome (Bilateral Renal Agenesis) Seckel Syndrome
(Bird-Headed Dwarfism; Nanocephalic Dwarfism) Pena Shokeir Syndrome Type II}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
509:
Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-
Skeletal Syndrome) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS
listing on the next page to find alternate names and disorder subdivisions
covered by this article.
Synonyms
Cerebrooculofacioskeletal Syndrome
COFS Syndrome
Pena Shokeir II Syndrome
Pena Shokeir Syndrome Type II
Information on the following disorders may be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Cockayne Syndrome
Neu-Laxova Syndrome
Potter Syndrome (Bilateral Renal Agenesis)
Seckel Syndrome (Bird-Headed Dwarfism; Nanocephalic Dwarfism)
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome is a genetic degenerative disorder
of the brain and spinal cord that begins before birth. The disorder is
characterized by reduced amounts of white brain matter with gray mottling,
lowered muscle tone and diminished or absent reflexes. Abnormalities of the
skull, face, eyes, limbs and other parts of the body also occur.
Symptoms
Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome was first described in 1974. Symptoms
of this disorder include an extremely small head (microcephaly), abnormally
small eyes, clouding of the eye's lens (cataract), and a horizontally narrow
opening between the eyelids (blepharophimosis). The ears are abnormally
large, the upper lip overlaps the lower, the groove in the upper lip
(philtrum) is abnormally long, and the jaw is unusually small (micrognathia).
In most patients, fixed bending of the elbows and knees (flexion
contractures), a hunched back (kyphosis), and bending of one or more fingers
(camptodactyly) occurs. Infants with Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome
usually have so-called "rocker bottom" feet and a groove over the length of
the soles of the feet. A deformity of the hip (coxa valga) and porous bones
(osteoporosis) may also occur.
Other features of this disorder include wide-set nipples, failure to
thrive, slowed growth (developmental retardation), feeding difficulties and
one line in the palm of the hand formed by fusion of the usual two lines
(simian crease). Children with Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome have an
increased vulnerability to respiratory infections.
Causes
Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome is a genetic disorder inherited through
autosomal recessive genes. (Human traits including the classic genetic
diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes for that condition,
one received from the father and one from the mother. In recessive
disorders, the condition does not appear unless a person inherits the same
defective gene from each parent. If one receives one normal gene and one
gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but
usually will show no symptoms. The risk of transmitting the disease to the
children of a couple, both of whom are carriers for a recessive disorder, is
twenty-five percent. Fifty percent of their children will be carriers, but
healthy as described above. Twenty-five percent of their children will
receive both normal genes, one from each parent and will be genetically
normal.)
Affected Population
Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome is a very rare disorder present at
birth. The disorder has occurred in infants of diverse ethnic heritage.
Affected siblings are generally born to normal parents who may or may not be
closely related.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Oculo-Facio-
Skeletal Syndrome. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Cockayne Syndrome is a progressive disorder which manifests itself during
the second year of life. It is characterized by hypersensitivity to sunlight
and dwarfism, accompanied by relatively long extremities. Musculoskeletal
abnormalities may include large joints which are habitually flexed, a
humpback, and a thickened and relatively small skull. (For more information
on this disorder, choose "Cockayne" a your search term in the Rare Disease
Database.)
Neu-Laxova Syndrome is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder
characterized by growth retardation before birth and multiple abnormalities
at birth. These abnormalities include a small head (microcephaly) and
abnormal limbs, skin, external genitals and afterbirth (placenta).
Children with various features common to both COFS Syndrome and Neu-
Laxova Syndrome have also been described in the medical literature.
Potter Syndrome (Bilateral Renal Agenesis) is a rare condition
characterized by a flattened face with a "parrot-beak" nose, wide-set eyes
and abnormalities of the eyelids, unusual smallness of the jaw and low-set,
floppy ears. They have more skin than necessary and it appears dehydrated.
A kidney may be absent or underdeveloped. Skeletal abnormalities such as
clubfeet and contracted joints occur frequently among infants with this
disorder.
Seckel Syndrome (Bird-Headed Dwarfism; Nanocephalic Dwarfism) is an
autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by low birthweight, an
abnormally small head, mental retardation, large eyes, a large beaklike nose,
a narrow face, and a receding lower jaw. Multiple deformities such as an
underdeveloped thumb, dislocation of the thigh bone head, clubfoot, curvature
of the spine, eyes that don't look in parallel directions, and
gastrointestinal abnormalities may also occur. Examination of the brain
shows a much simplified gross structure of the cerebrum with a relatively
intact cerebellum. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Seckel"
as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
Therapies: Standard
Treatment of COFS Syndrome is symptomatic and supportive. Genetic counseling
is recommended for families of children with the disorder.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April
1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Cerebro-Oculo-Facio-Skeletal Syndrome, please
contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-5751
(800) 352-9424
FACES
National Association for the Craniofacially Handicapped
P.O. Box 11082
Chattanooga, TN 37401
National Craniofacial Foundation
3100 Carlisle St., Suite 215
Dallas, TX 75204
1-800-535-3643
Society for Rehabilitation of the Facially Disfigured
550 First Ave.
New York, NY 10016
(212) 340-5400
About Face
99 Crowns Lane
Toronto, Ontario M5R 3PA
Canada
(416) 944-3223
For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals, please contact:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
This report in the Rare Disease Database is based on outlines prepared by
medical and dental students (1984-1986) at the Medical College of Virginia
for their course in human genetics.
CHONDRO-OSSEOUS CHANGES IN CEREBRO-OCULO-FACIO-SKELETAL (COFS) SYNDROME:
W.S. Hwang, et al.; Journal Pathol (September 1982: issue 138(1)). Pp. 33-
40.
INTRACRANIAL CALCIFICATIONS IN CEREBRO-OCULO-FACIO-SKELETAL (COFS)
SYNDROME: S.L. Linna, et al.; Pediatr Radiol (1982: issue 12(1)). Pp. 28-
30.
THE NEU-COFS (CERBRO-OCULO-FACIO-SKELETAL) SYNDROME: REPORT OF A CASE:
M.C. Silengo, et al.; Clin Genet (February 1984: issue 25(2)). Pp. 201-204.