Microcephaly, cutis verticis gyrata of the scalp, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, sensorineural deafness, and mental retardation in two brothers

Cutis verticis gyrata: Two cases associated with drug-resistant epilepsy

Cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by the formation of folds in the scalp that resembles the cerebral cortex. We present two cases of CVG and intellectual disability with drug-resistant epilepsy. Recognizing CVG is necessary to provide interdisciplinary support for the treatment of comorbidities associated with this entity.

Gene analysis: A rare gene disease of intellectual deficiency-Cohen syndrome

Cohen syndrome is a rare, genetic, connective-tissue disorder, which is caused by mutations in the gene COH1 (VPS13B, Vacuolar Protein Sorting 13 Homolog B) at the chromosome 8q22. The disease is rare reported, which major clinical features include postnatal microcephaly, obesity, short stature, intellectual disability, progressive retinal dystrophy, intermittent neutropenia and many other unusual facial feature. We report four patients in China who were diagnosed with Cohen syndrome by genetic testing and clinical manifestations. At the same time, we review the related literature, and further expound the molecular mechanism of the disease, a variety of clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis.

Is cutis verticis Gyrata-Intellectual Disability syndrome an underdiagnosed condition? A case report and review of 62 cases

Cutis Verticis Gyrata-Intellectual Disability (CVG-ID) syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by intellectual disability and scalp folds and furrows that are typically absent at birth and are first noticed after puberty. First reported in 1893, the syndrome was mainly identified in subjects living in psychiatric institutions, where it was found to have a prevalence of up to 11.4%. Most patients were reported in the literature during the first half of the 20th century. CVG-ID is now a less reported and possibly under-recognized syndrome. Here, we report a patient with CVG-ID that was diagnosed using the novel approach of magnetic resonance imaging and we conduct a systematic review of all patients reported in the last 60 years, discussing the core clinical features of this syndrome. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A novel VPS13B mutation in two brothers with Cohen syndrome, cutis verticis gyrata and sensorineural deafness

We have earlier described a syndrome characterized by microcephaly, cutis verticis gyrata, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, hearing loss and mental retardation (Mendelian inheritance in man (MIM) no: 605685) in two brothers from a non-consanguineous Lebanese family. In view of the rarity of the disorder and the high rate of inbreeding in the Lebanese population, we assumed an autosomal recessive trait inherited from a common ancestor. A genomewide scan was performed. The single locus on the long arm of chromosome 8 that showed homozygosity by descent comprised the gene responsible for Cohen syndrome (CS), VPS13B. We then sequenced VPS13B in the patients and found a homozygous splice site mutation. Several possible explanations for the overlap between CS and the clinical features observed in our patients are discussed. Our data highlight the potential of high-resolution homozygosity mapping in small populations with a high rate of inbreeding.

Cataracts associated with systemic disorders and syndromes

This review article examines the ophthalmic literature published on cataracts and systemic disease during the past year. Epidemiologically, the association between alcohol consumption and lens opacification is reviewed. Cataracts continue to be strongly associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Clinical, basic science reports and the results of the Blue Mountains Eye Study group on the morphology of diabetes-related cataracts are presented. Patients with neurologic disorders such as Wilson disease may first present with decreased vision and cataracts. Cataracts are now associated with syndromes such as Cohen syndrome, Degos disease, and Dubowitz syndrome. A recent study suggests earlier mortality in middle-age patients undergoing cataract surgery.