• Disease Overview
  • Synonyms
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Affected Populations
  • Disorders with Similar Symptoms
  • Standard Therapies
  • Clinical Trials and Studies
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Cohen Syndrome

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Last updated: 05/23/2023
Years published: 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2016, 2019, 2023


Acknowledgment

NORD gratefully acknowledges Heng Wang, MD, PhD, Medical Director, DDC Clinic Center for Special Needs Children, Middlefield, Ohio, for assistance in the preparation of this report.


Disease Overview

Cohen syndrome is a variable genetic disorder characterized by diminished muscle tone (hypotonia), abnormalities of the head, face, hands and feet, eye abnormalities, and non-progressive intellectual disability. Affected individuals usually have microcephaly, a condition that indicates that head circumference is smaller than would be expected for an infant’s age and sex. In many older patients, obesity is present, especially around the torso and is associated with slender arms and legs. A lowered level of certain white blood cells known as neutrophils (neutropenia) is present from birth in some affected individuals. Cohen syndrome is an autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by changes (variants or mutations) in the VPS13B/COH1 gene.

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Synonyms

  • Pepper Syndrome
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Signs & Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Cohen syndrome may vary from one individual to another. Although researchers have been able to establish a clear syndrome with characteristic or “core” features, much about the disorder is not fully understood. Several factors including the small number of identified cases and the lack of large clinical studies, prevent physicians from developing a complete picture of associated symptoms and prognosis. Therefore, it is important to note that affected individuals may not have all of the symptoms discussed below. Parents should talk to their children’s physician and medical team about their specific case, associated symptoms and overall prognosis.

Newborns with Cohen syndrome usually have diminished muscle tone (hypotonia). Feeding and breathing difficulties due to hypotonia may be present in the first few days of life. Some newborns may have a weak or high-pitched cry. Some infants may exhibit a failure to gain weight and grow as would otherwise be expected based upon sex and age (failure to thrive). An infant’s joints may be ‘loose’, meaning that they have an abnormally large range of motion (joint hypermobility). Mild to moderate microcephaly often develops within the first year of life and continues into adulthood.

As infants grow older, they may exhibit delays in reaching normal developmental milestones such as sitting up or rolling over (developmental delays). The degree of such delays is highly variable, even among members of the same family. Walking is often delayed until 2-5 years of age. Speech delays are also common; an infant’s or child’s first words or ability to speak in sentences are often delayed.

Mild to moderate intellectual disability is non-progressive and affected individuals show an ability to learn new concepts. Most children are described as sociable with a cheerful disposition. In some instances, children may exhibit behavioral issues that fall within the autistic spectrum. Although rare, seizures have been reported in a minority of individuals.

During childhood, often around the age of 5, distinctive facial features may become apparent. Such features include large ears; a prominent root of the nose (the part of nose between the eyes); a low hairline; highly arched or wave-shaped eyelids; long, thick eyelashes; thick eyebrows; a high, narrow roof of the mouth (palate); an abnormally short groove in the middle of the upper lip (philtrum); and prominent upper central incisors. Some individuals may develop recurrent, small, rounded ulcers in the mouth (aphthous ulcers) and inflammation or infection of the gums (gingivitis) may occur. In the medical literature, the range of distinctive facial features is highly variable and specific features appear to be more likely to occur in individuals of specific ethnic backgrounds.

Affected individuals often develop a variety of abnormalities affecting the eyes and may experience vision problems early in childhood. Such abnormalities include decreased clarity of vision (visual acuity), nearsightedness (myopia) and crossed eyes (strabismus). Myopia usually becomes progressively worse throughout childhood.

Affected individuals may also have chorioretinal dystrophy, a condition characterized by abnormalities affecting the choroid and retina including degeneration of the retina. The choroid is the middle layer of the eye that consists of blood vessels that supply blood to the retina. The retina is a membranous layer of light-sensing cells in the back of the eye that converts light to specific nerve signals, which are then transmitted to the brain to form images. Chorioretinal dystrophy is progressive and can cause poor vision in dim light and eventually night blindness (nyctalopia) and a decreased field of vision with a decreased ability to see to the left or right when looking straight ahead (constriction of the peripheral field of vision; sometimes referred to as tunnel vision). Loss of peripheral vision may cause individuals to trip or fall easily.

Less often, additional abnormalities of the eyes are associated with Cohen syndrome including abnormal curvature of the cornea (astigmatism), reduced size of the cornea (microcornea), abnormally small eyeballs (microphthalmia), clouding (opacity) of the lenses, degeneration of the iris (iris atrophy), degeneration of the optic nerve, which carries impulses from the eyes to the brain (optic atrophy) and a cleft of missing tissue (colobomas) in the retina or eyelids.

Some individuals develop obesity of the trunk or torso of the body that occurs during mid-childhood. The arms and legs can remain slender or thin. Individuals may be below average height for their age and gender (short stature). Some individuals may also have small, narrow hands and feet. Delayed puberty has also been reported and some males exhibit undescended testicles (cryptorchidism).

Abnormal curvature of the spine is common. Affected individuals may develop abnormal front-to-back curvature of the spine (kyphosis), or a combination of kyphosis with abnormal sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis).

Individuals with Cohen syndrome may have a condition called neutropenia, in which there are abnormally low levels of certain white blood cells called neutrophils. Neutrophils are essential in helping the body to fight off infection by surrounding and destroying bacteria that enter the body. Neutropenia is usually mild or moderate. Some individuals may experience repeated infections such as respiratory infections or minor skin infections. Children with Cohen syndrome may be prone to developing middle ear infections (otitis media). Chronic development of aphthous ulcers and gingivitis may be partly due to neutropenia.

Individuals with Cohen syndrome appear to be at an increased risk of developing autoimmune disorders, especially diabetes mellitus, but also thyroid disorders and celiac disease. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

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Causes

Cohen syndrome is caused by changes (variants or mutations) in the COH1 gene. This gene is also known as the VPS13B gene. Genes provide instructions for creating proteins that play a critical role in many functions of the body. When an alteration of a gene occurs, the protein product may be faulty, inefficient, or absent. Depending upon the functions of the protein, this can affect many organ systems of the body.

Researchers have determined that the protein product of the COH1 gene is involved in glycosylation, the process by which sugar ‘trees’ (glycans) are created, altered and chemically attached to certain proteins or fats (lipids). When these sugar molecules are attached to proteins, they form glycoproteins; when they are attached to lipids, they form glycolipids. Glycoproteins and glycolipids have numerous important functions in all tissues and organs. Glycosylation involves many different genes, encoding many different proteins such as enzymes. A deficiency or lack of one of these enzymes can lead to a variety of symptoms potentially affecting multiple organ systems, and there is nearly always an important neurological component. Symptoms can vary in severity.

Cohen syndrome is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits a mutated gene from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one mutated gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the mutated gene and have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk of having a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.

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Affected populations

Cohen syndrome affects males and females in about equal numbers. It appears to occur more frequently in people of Finnish, Amish, Greek/Mediterranean and Irish ancestry. More than 150 cases have been reported in the medical literature and an estimated over 1,000 individuals have been diagnosed with the disorder worldwide. However, instances of Cohen syndrome often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, making it difficult to determine the true frequency of the disorder in the general population.

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Standard Therapies

The treatment of Cohen syndrome is directed toward the specific symptoms that are apparent in each individual. Treatment may require the coordinated efforts of a team of specialists. Pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, orthopedists, ophthalmologists, psychiatrists, speech pathologists and other healthcare professionals may need to systematically and comprehensively plan an affected child’s treatment. Genetic counseling is recommended for affected individuals and their families.

Treatment options that may be used to treat individuals with Cohen syndrome are complex and varied. The specific treatment plan will need to be highly individualized. Decisions concerning the use of specific treatments should be made by physicians and other members of the health care team in careful consultation with an affected child’s parents or with an adult patient based upon the specifics of his or her case; a thorough discussion of the potential benefits and risks, including possible side effects and long-term effects; patient preference; and other appropriate factors.

Early developmental intervention is important to ensure that affected children reach their potential. Most affected children will benefit from occupational, physical and speech therapy. Various methods of rehabilitative and behavioral therapy may be beneficial. Additional medical, social and/or vocational services including special remedial education may be necessary. Psychosocial support for the entire family is essential as well.

Genetic counseling is recommended for families with an affected child.

Specific treatments for Cohen syndrome include spectacles and eyeglasses to help with vision. In later years, low vision training as needed in individuals with visual impairment. Recurrent infections can be treated with standard therapies including antibiotics.
In some instances, neutropenia may be treated with the administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF). G-CSF is a manufactured version of the natural hormones that stimulate the bone marrow to produce neutrophils. G-CSF increases the number of neutrophils generated by the bone marrow and improves the efficacy of their bacteria-killing ability.

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Clinical Trials and Studies

Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.

For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:

Toll-free: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

Some current clinical trials also are posted on the following page on the NORD website:
https://rarediseases.org/for-patients-and-families/information-resources/news-patient-recruitment/

For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:
www.centerwatch.com

For more information about clinical trials conducted in Europe, contact: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/

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References

TEXTBOOKS
Chandler K, Clayton-Smith J. Cohen Syndrome. In: Management of Genetic Syndromes, 3rd edition. Cassidy SB, Allanson JE, editors. 2011 Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ.

Gunay-Aygun M. Cohen Syndrome. In: NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2003:172-73.

Gorlin RJ, Cohen MMJr, Hennekam RCM. Eds. Cohen syndrome. In: Syndromes of the Head and Neck. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, London, UK; 2001:424-426.

JOURNAL ARTICLES
Limoge F, Faivre L, Gautier T, et al. Insulin response dysregulation explains abnormal fat storage and increased risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 in Cohen syndrome. Hum Mol Genet. 2015;24:6603-6613. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26358774

Duplomb L, Duvet S, Picot D, et al. Cohen syndrome is associated with major glycosylation defects. Hum Mol Genet. 2014;23:2391-2399. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24334764

Gueneau L, Duplomb L, Sarda P, et al. Congenital neutropenia with retinopathy, a new phenotype without intellectual disability or obesity secondary to VPS13B mutations. Am J Med Genet A. 2014;164:522-527. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24311531

El Chehadeh-Djebbar S, Blair E, Holder-Espinasse M, et al. Changing facial phenotype in Cohen syndrome: towards clues for an earlier diagnosis. Eur J Hum Genet. 2013;21:736-742. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3722949/

Douzgou S, Petersen MB. Clinical variability of genetic isolates of Cohen syndrome. Clin Genet. 2011;79:501-506. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21418059

Donadieu J, Fenneteau O, Beaupain B, Mahlaoui N, Chantelot CB. Congenital neutropenia: diagnosis, molecular diagnosis, molecular bases and patient management. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2011;6:26. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21595885

Balikova I, Lehesjoki AE, de Ravel TJ, et al. Deletions in the VPS13B (COH1) gene as a cause of Cohen syndrome. Hum Mutat. 2009;30:E845-854. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19533689

Taban M, Memoracion-Peralta DS, Wang H, Al-Gazali LI, Traboulsi EI. Cohen syndrome: report of nine cases and review of the literature, with emphasis on ophthalmic features. J AAPOS. 2007;11:431-437. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17383910

Seifert W, Holder-Espinasse M, Spranger S, et al. Mutational spectrum of COH1 and clinical heterogeneity in Cohen syndrome. J Med Genet. 2006;43:e22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16648375

Falk MJ, Feiler HS, Neilson DE, et al. Cohen syndrome in the Ohio Amish. Am J Med Genet. 2004;128A:23-28. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15211651

Hennies HC, Rauch A, Seifert W, et al. Allelic heterogeneity in the COH1 gene explains clinical variability in Cohen syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2004;75:138-45. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15154116

Kolehmainen J, Wilkerson R, Lehesjoki AE, et al. Delineation of the Cohen syndrome following a large-scale genotype-phenotype screen. Am J Hum Genet. 2004;75:122-27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15141358

Karpf J, Turk J, Howlin P. Cognitive, language, and adaptive behavior profiles in individuals with a diagnosis of Cohen syndrome. Clin Genet. 2004;65:327-32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15025727

Kolehmainen J, Black GC, Saarinen A, et al. Cohen syndrome is caused by mutations in a novel gene, COH1, encoding a transmembrane protein with a presumed role in vesicle-mediated sorting and intracellular protein transport. Am J Hum Genet. 2003;72:1359-69. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12730828

Chandler KE, Kidd A, Al-Gazali L, et al. Diagnostic criteria, clinical characteristics, and natural history of Cohen syndrome. J Med Genet. 2003;40:233-41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12676892

Chandler KE, Biswas S, Lloyd IC, et al. The ophthalmic findings in Cohen syndrome. Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86:1395-98. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1771382/

Kivitie-Kallio S, Norio R. Cohen syndrome: essential features, natural history, and heterogeneity. Am J Med Genet. 2001;102:125-35. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11477603

Kivitie-Kallio S, Larsen A, Kajasto K, et al. Neurological and psychological findings in patients with Cohen syndrome: a study of 18 patients aged 11 months to 57 years. Neuropediatrics. 1999;30:181-89. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10569209

INTERNET
Wang H, Falk MJ, Wensel C, et al. Cohen Syndrome. 2006 Aug 29 [Updated 2016 Jul 21]. In: Adam MP, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1482/ Accessed May 9, 2023.

Wang H. Cohen syndrome. Orphanet Encyclopedia, February 2013. Available at: https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Expert=193 Accessed May 9, 2023.

Cohen Syndrome. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). Entry No:216550; Last Update: 03/18/2020. Available at: Entry – #216550 – COHEN SYNDROME; COH1 – OMIM Accessed May 9, 2023.

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