Kabuki syndrome

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 20 May 2024

Kabuki syndrome (Niikawa-Kuroki syndrome) is a rare polydysplasia that is thought to be more common in Japan.

The estimated incidence is 1:32.000 in Japan. It is sporadically seen elsewhere in the world. The reason for the disparity in incidence is controversial.

  • characteristic facies

    • long palpebral fissures

    • eversion of the lower eyelid

    • arched eyebrows

    • the sparseness of the lateral half of the eyebrows

    • hypertelorism

    • epicanthal folds

    • protruding ears

    • missing and widely-spaced teeth

    • "trapezoid philtrum"

  • hypotonia

  • feeding problems

  • intellectual disability (most slight or moderate)

  • growth restriction

  • prominent finger pads and abnormal dermatoglyphic patterns

  • seizures (32%)

  • immune system dysfunction

In the majority of the patients with Kabuki syndrome, a genetic mutation of MLL2 is identified 1. Other gene mutations causing Kabuki syndrome are reported in the literature including KMT2D inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and KDM6A inherited in an X-linked dominant manner 2.

Other anomalies have been associated with the syndrome:

Variable, depending on the degree of neuromuscular dysfunction and organ dysplasia.

"Kabuki" refers to a type of Japanese drama in which the players appear in stylized makeup. Kabuki syndrome was first reported in 1981 by Niikawa and Kuroki in a total of ten unrelated Japanese children with a similar presentation of multiple congenital anomalies and neurologic abnormalities. 

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.