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Kearns-Sayre syndrome(KSS)

MedGen UID:
9618
Concept ID:
C0022541
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia with myopathy; Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia with myopathy, somatic; CPEO with ragged red fibers; Oculocraniosomatic syndrome; Ophthalmoplegia plus syndrome; Ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary degeneration of retina, and cardiomyopathy; Ophthalmoplegia, progressive external, with ragged red fibers
SNOMED CT: Kearns-Sayre mitochondrial cytopathy (25792000); Mitochondrial ocular myopathy (25792000); KSS - Kearns-Sayre syndrome (25792000); Ophthalmoplegia plus syndrome (77835008); Oculocraniosomatic syndrome (25792000); Kearns-Sayre syndrome (25792000)
Modes of inheritance:
Autosomal recessive inheritance
MedGen UID:
141025
Concept ID:
C0441748
Intellectual Product
Source: Orphanet
A mode of inheritance that is observed for traits related to a gene encoded on one of the autosomes (i.e., the human chromosomes 1-22) in which a trait manifests in individuals with two pathogenic alleles, either homozygotes (two copies of the same mutant allele) or compound heterozygotes (whereby each copy of a gene has a distinct mutant allele).
Mitochondrial inheritance
MedGen UID:
165802
Concept ID:
C0887941
Genetic Function
Source: Orphanet
A mode of inheritance that is observed for traits related to a gene encoded on the mitochondrial genome. Because the mitochondrial genome is essentially always maternally inherited, a mitochondrial condition can only be transmitted by females, although the condition can affect both sexes. The proportion of mutant mitochondria can vary (heteroplasmy).
Not genetically inherited
MedGen UID:
988794
Concept ID:
CN307044
Finding
Source: Orphanet
clinical entity without genetic inheritance.
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0010787
OMIM®: 530000
Orphanet: ORPHA480

Definition

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion syndromes predominantly comprise three overlapping phenotypes that are usually simplex (i.e., a single occurrence in a family), but rarely may be observed in different members of the same family or may evolve from one clinical syndrome to another in a given individual over time. The three classic phenotypes caused by mtDNA deletions are Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), Pearson syndrome, and progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO). KSS is a progressive multisystem disorder defined by onset before age 20 years, pigmentary retinopathy, and PEO; additional features include cerebellar ataxia, impaired intellect (intellectual disability, dementia, or both), sensorineural hearing loss, ptosis, oropharyngeal and esophageal dysfunction, exercise intolerance, muscle weakness, cardiac conduction block, and endocrinopathy. Pearson syndrome is characterized by sideroblastic anemia and exocrine pancreas dysfunction and may be fatal in infancy without appropriate hematologic management. PEO is characterized by ptosis, impaired eye movements due to paralysis of the extraocular muscles (ophthalmoplegia), oropharyngeal weakness, and variably severe proximal limb weakness with exercise intolerance. Rarely, a mtDNA deletion can manifest as Leigh syndrome. [from GeneReviews]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
Kearns-Sayre syndrome is a condition that affects many parts of the body, especially the eyes. The features of Kearns-Sayre syndrome usually appear before age 20, and the condition is diagnosed by a few characteristic signs and symptoms. People with Kearns-Sayre syndrome have progressive external ophthalmoplegia, which is weakness or paralysis of the eye muscles that impairs eye movement and causes drooping eyelids (ptosis). Affected individuals also have an eye condition called pigmentary retinopathy, which results from breakdown (degeneration) of the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye (the retina) that gives it a speckled and streaked appearance. The retinopathy may cause loss of vision. In addition, people with Kearns-Sayre syndrome have at least one of the following signs or symptoms: abnormalities of the electrical signals that control the heartbeat (cardiac conduction defects), problems with coordination and balance that cause unsteadiness while walking (ataxia), or abnormally high levels of protein in the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord (the cerebrospinal fluid or CSF).

People with Kearns-Sayre syndrome may also experience muscle weakness in their limbs, deafness, kidney problems, or a deterioration of cognitive functions (dementia). Affected individuals often have short stature. In addition, diabetes mellitus is occasionally seen in people with Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

When the muscle cells of affected individuals are stained and viewed under a microscope, these cells usually appear abnormal. The abnormal muscle cells contain an excess of structures called mitochondria and are known as ragged-red fibers.

A related condition called ophthalmoplegia-plus may be diagnosed if an individual has many of the signs and symptoms of Kearns-Sayre syndrome but not all the criteria are met.  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/kearns-sayre-syndrome

Clinical features

From HPO
Primary Fanconi syndrome
MedGen UID:
341765
Concept ID:
C1857395
Disease or Syndrome
An inability of the tubules in the kidney to reabsorb small molecules, causing increased urinary loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate), minerals, glucose, amino acids, and water.
Cardiac arrhythmia
MedGen UID:
2039
Concept ID:
C0003811
Finding
Any cardiac rhythm other than the normal sinus rhythm. Such a rhythm may be either of sinus or ectopic origin and either regular or irregular. An arrhythmia may be due to a disturbance in impulse formation or conduction or both.
Third degree atrioventricular block
MedGen UID:
56230
Concept ID:
C0151517
Disease or Syndrome
Third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block (also referred to as complete heart block) is the complete dissociation of the atria and the ventricles. Third-degree AV block exists when more P waves than QRS complexes exist and no relationship (no conduction) exists between them.
Cardiomyopathy
MedGen UID:
209232
Concept ID:
C0878544
Disease or Syndrome
A myocardial disorder in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal, in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, valvular disease and congenital heart disease sufficient to cause the observed myocardial abnormality.
Short stature
MedGen UID:
87607
Concept ID:
C0349588
Finding
A height below that which is expected according to age and gender norms. Although there is no universally accepted definition of short stature, many refer to "short stature" as height more than 2 standard deviations below the mean for age and gender (or below the 3rd percentile for age and gender dependent norms).
Sensorineural hearing loss disorder
MedGen UID:
9164
Concept ID:
C0018784
Disease or Syndrome
A type of hearing impairment in one or both ears related to an abnormal functionality of the cochlear nerve.
Cerebellar ataxia
MedGen UID:
849
Concept ID:
C0007758
Disease or Syndrome
Cerebellar ataxia refers to ataxia due to dysfunction of the cerebellum. This causes a variety of elementary neurological deficits including asynergy (lack of coordination between muscles, limbs and joints), dysmetria (lack of ability to judge distances that can lead to under- or overshoot in grasping movements), and dysdiadochokinesia (inability to perform rapid movements requiring antagonizing muscle groups to be switched on and off repeatedly).
Seizure
MedGen UID:
20693
Concept ID:
C0036572
Sign or Symptom
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain.
Sensory neuropathy
MedGen UID:
101791
Concept ID:
C0151313
Disease or Syndrome
Peripheral neuropathy affecting the sensory nerves.
Dementia
MedGen UID:
99229
Concept ID:
C0497327
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
A loss of global cognitive ability of sufficient amount to interfere with normal social or occupational function. Dementia represents a loss of previously present cognitive abilities, generally in adults, and can affect memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.
Increased CSF protein concentration
MedGen UID:
329971
Concept ID:
C1806780
Finding
Increased concentration of protein in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Sideroblastic anemia
MedGen UID:
8067
Concept ID:
C0002896
Disease or Syndrome
Sideroblastic anemia results from a defect in the incorporation of iron into the heme molecule. A sideroblast is an erythroblast that has stainable deposits of iron in cytoplasm (this can be demonstrated by Prussian blue staining).
Muscle weakness
MedGen UID:
57735
Concept ID:
C0151786
Finding
Reduced strength of muscles.
Basal ganglia calcification
MedGen UID:
234651
Concept ID:
C1389280
Pathologic Function
The presence of calcium deposition affecting one or more structures of the basal ganglia.
Ragged-red muscle fibers
MedGen UID:
477048
Concept ID:
C3275417
Finding
An abnormal appearance of muscle fibers observed on muscle biopsy. Ragged red fibers can be visualized with Gomori trichrome staining as irregular and intensely red subsarcolemmal zones, whereas the normal myofibrils are green. The margins of affect fibers appear red and ragged. The ragged-red is due to the accumulation of abnormal mitochondria below the plasma membrane of the muscle fiber, leading to the appearance of a red rim and speckled sarcoplasm.
Microcephaly
MedGen UID:
1644158
Concept ID:
C4551563
Finding
Head circumference below 2 standard deviations below the mean for age and gender.
Lactic acidosis
MedGen UID:
1717
Concept ID:
C0001125
Disease or Syndrome
An abnormal buildup of lactic acid in the body, leading to acidification of the blood and other bodily fluids.
Renal tubular acidosis
MedGen UID:
90
Concept ID:
C0001126
Disease or Syndrome
Acidosis owing to malfunction of the kidney tubules with accumulation of metabolic acids and hyperchloremia, potentially leading to complications including hypokalemia, hypercalcinuria, nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis.
Diabetes mellitus
MedGen UID:
8350
Concept ID:
C0011849
Disease or Syndrome
A group of abnormalities characterized by hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance.
Hypoparathyroidism
MedGen UID:
6985
Concept ID:
C0020626
Disease or Syndrome
A condition caused by a deficiency of parathyroid hormone characterized by hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia.
Primary adrenal insufficiency
MedGen UID:
854614
Concept ID:
C3887896
Disease or Syndrome
Insufficient production of steroid hormones (primarily cortisol) by the adrenal glands as a result of a primary defect in the glands themselves.
Ptosis
MedGen UID:
2287
Concept ID:
C0005745
Disease or Syndrome
The upper eyelid margin is positioned 3 mm or more lower than usual and covers the superior portion of the iris (objective); or, the upper lid margin obscures at least part of the pupil (subjective).
Progressive external ophthalmoplegia
MedGen UID:
102439
Concept ID:
C0162674
Disease or Syndrome
Progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a condition characterized by weakness of the eye muscles. The condition typically appears in adults between ages 18 and 40 and slowly worsens over time. The first sign of progressive external ophthalmoplegia is typically drooping eyelids (ptosis), which can affect one or both eyelids. As ptosis worsens, affected individuals may use the forehead muscles to try to lift the eyelids, or they may lift up their chin in order to see. Another characteristic feature of progressive external ophthalmoplegia is weakness or paralysis of the muscles that move the eye (ophthalmoplegia). Affected individuals have to turn their head to see in different directions, especially as the ophthalmoplegia worsens. People with progressive external ophthalmoplegia may also have general weakness of the muscles used for movement (myopathy), particularly those in the neck, arms, or legs. The weakness may be especially noticeable during exercise (exercise intolerance). Muscle weakness may also cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).\n\nWhen the muscle cells of affected individuals are stained and viewed under a microscope, these cells usually appear abnormal. These abnormal muscle cells contain an excess of cell structures called mitochondria and are known as ragged-red fibers.\n\nAlthough muscle weakness is the primary symptom of progressive external ophthalmoplegia, this condition can be accompanied by other signs and symptoms. In these instances, the condition is referred to as progressive external ophthalmoplegia plus (PEO+). Additional signs and symptoms can include hearing loss caused by nerve damage in the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss), weakness and loss of sensation in the limbs due to nerve damage (neuropathy), impaired muscle coordination (ataxia), a pattern of movement abnormalities known as parkinsonism, and depression.\n\nProgressive external ophthalmoplegia is part of a spectrum of disorders with overlapping signs and symptoms. Similar disorders include ataxia neuropathy spectrum and Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Like progressive external ophthalmoplegia, the other conditions in this spectrum can involve weakness of the eye muscles. However, these conditions have many additional features not shared by most people with progressive external ophthalmoplegia.
Pigmentary retinopathy
MedGen UID:
1643295
Concept ID:
C4551715
Disease or Syndrome
An abnormality of the retina characterized by pigment deposition. It is typically associated with migration and proliferation of macrophages or retinal pigment epithelial cells into the retina; melanin from these cells causes the pigmentary changes. Pigmentary retinopathy is a common final pathway of many retinal conditions and is often associated with visual loss.

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
Follow this link to review classifications for Kearns-Sayre syndrome in Orphanet.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Groh WJ, Bhakta D, Tomaselli GF, Aleong RG, Teixeira RA, Amato A, Asirvatham SJ, Cha YM, Corrado D, Duboc D, Goldberger ZD, Horie M, Hornyak JE, Jefferies JL, Kääb S, Kalman JM, Kertesz NJ, Lakdawala NK, Lambiase PD, Lubitz SA, McMillan HJ, McNally EM, Milone M, Namboodiri N, Nazarian S, Patton KK, Russo V, Sacher F, Santangeli P, Shen WK, Sobral Filho DC, Stambler BS, Stöllberger C, Wahbi K, Wehrens XHT, Weiner MM, Wheeler MT, Zeppenfeld K
Heart Rhythm 2022 Oct;19(10):e61-e120. Epub 2022 Apr 29 doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2022.04.022. PMID: 35500790
Karaa A, Goldstein A
Pediatr Diabetes 2015 Feb;16(1):1-9. Epub 2014 Oct 20 doi: 10.1111/pedi.12223. PMID: 25330715
Finsterer J
Eur J Neurol 2009 Nov;16(11):1178-84. Epub 2009 Sep 23 doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02789.x. PMID: 19780807

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Pizzamiglio C, Hanna MG, Pitceathly RDS
Handb Clin Neurol 2024;204:53-76. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-99209-1.00004-1. PMID: 39322395
Groh WJ, Bhakta D, Tomaselli GF, Aleong RG, Teixeira RA, Amato A, Asirvatham SJ, Cha YM, Corrado D, Duboc D, Goldberger ZD, Horie M, Hornyak JE, Jefferies JL, Kääb S, Kalman JM, Kertesz NJ, Lakdawala NK, Lambiase PD, Lubitz SA, McMillan HJ, McNally EM, Milone M, Namboodiri N, Nazarian S, Patton KK, Russo V, Sacher F, Santangeli P, Shen WK, Sobral Filho DC, Stambler BS, Stöllberger C, Wahbi K, Wehrens XHT, Weiner MM, Wheeler MT, Zeppenfeld K
Heart Rhythm 2022 Oct;19(10):e61-e120. Epub 2022 Apr 29 doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2022.04.022. PMID: 35500790
Birtel J, von Landenberg C, Gliem M, Gliem C, Reimann J, Kunz WS, Herrmann P, Betz C, Caswell R, Nesbitt V, Kornblum C, Charbel Issa P
Ophthalmol Retina 2022 Jan;6(1):65-79. Epub 2021 Jul 10 doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2021.02.017. PMID: 34257060
Ashrafi MR, Amanat M, Garshasbi M, Kameli R, Nilipour Y, Heidari M, Rezaei Z, Tavasoli AR
Expert Rev Neurother 2020 Jan;20(1):65-84. Epub 2019 Dec 12 doi: 10.1080/14737175.2020.1699060. PMID: 31829048
Karaa A, Goldstein A
Pediatr Diabetes 2015 Feb;16(1):1-9. Epub 2014 Oct 20 doi: 10.1111/pedi.12223. PMID: 25330715

Diagnosis

Yoshimi A, Ishikawa K, Niemeyer C, Grünert SC
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022 Oct 17;17(1):379. doi: 10.1186/s13023-022-02538-9. PMID: 36253820Free PMC Article
Birtel J, von Landenberg C, Gliem M, Gliem C, Reimann J, Kunz WS, Herrmann P, Betz C, Caswell R, Nesbitt V, Kornblum C, Charbel Issa P
Ophthalmol Retina 2022 Jan;6(1):65-79. Epub 2021 Jul 10 doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2021.02.017. PMID: 34257060
Ashrafi MR, Amanat M, Garshasbi M, Kameli R, Nilipour Y, Heidari M, Rezaei Z, Tavasoli AR
Expert Rev Neurother 2020 Jan;20(1):65-84. Epub 2019 Dec 12 doi: 10.1080/14737175.2020.1699060. PMID: 31829048
Karaa A, Goldstein A
Pediatr Diabetes 2015 Feb;16(1):1-9. Epub 2014 Oct 20 doi: 10.1111/pedi.12223. PMID: 25330715
Valero T
Curr Pharm Des 2014;20(35):5507-9. doi: 10.2174/138161282035140911142118. PMID: 24606795

Therapy

Maddali MM, Munasinghe TD, Al Aamri I, Al-Abri IA, Al-Adawi S
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2023 Dec;23(Spec Iss):63-67. Epub 2023 Nov 30 doi: 10.18295/squmj.12.2023.080. PMID: 38161763Free PMC Article
Chertkof J, Hufnagel RB, Blain D, Gropman AL, Brooks BP
Ophthalmic Genet 2020 Oct;41(5):497-500. Epub 2020 Aug 13 doi: 10.1080/13816810.2020.1799416. PMID: 32787478Free PMC Article
Viering DHHM, de Baaij JHF, Walsh SB, Kleta R, Bockenhauer D
Pediatr Nephrol 2017 Jul;32(7):1123-1135. Epub 2016 May 27 doi: 10.1007/s00467-016-3416-3. PMID: 27234911Free PMC Article
Quintos JB, Hodax JK, Gonzales-Ellis BA, Phornphutkul C, Wajnrajch MP, Boney CM
J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2016 Nov 1;29(11):1319-1324. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2016-0172. PMID: 27718492
Valero T
Curr Pharm Des 2014;20(35):5507-9. doi: 10.2174/138161282035140911142118. PMID: 24606795

Prognosis

Yoshimi A, Ishikawa K, Niemeyer C, Grünert SC
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022 Oct 17;17(1):379. doi: 10.1186/s13023-022-02538-9. PMID: 36253820Free PMC Article
Brown DA, Perry JB, Allen ME, Sabbah HN, Stauffer BL, Shaikh SR, Cleland JG, Colucci WS, Butler J, Voors AA, Anker SD, Pitt B, Pieske B, Filippatos G, Greene SJ, Gheorghiade M
Nat Rev Cardiol 2017 Apr;14(4):238-250. Epub 2016 Dec 22 doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2016.203. PMID: 28004807Free PMC Article
El-Hattab AW, Scaglia F
Cell Calcium 2016 Sep;60(3):199-206. Epub 2016 Mar 4 doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2016.03.003. PMID: 26996063
Magner M, Kolářová H, Honzik T, Švandová I, Zeman J
Dev Period Med 2015 Oct-Dec;19(4):441-9. PMID: 26982751
Valero T
Curr Pharm Des 2014;20(35):5507-9. doi: 10.2174/138161282035140911142118. PMID: 24606795

Clinical prediction guides

Maddali MM, Munasinghe TD, Al Aamri I, Al-Abri IA, Al-Adawi S
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2023 Dec;23(Spec Iss):63-67. Epub 2023 Nov 30 doi: 10.18295/squmj.12.2023.080. PMID: 38161763Free PMC Article
Viering DHHM, Vermeltfoort L, Bindels RJM, Deinum J, de Baaij JHF
J Am Soc Nephrol 2023 Nov 1;34(11):1875-1888. Epub 2023 Sep 6 doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000000000224. PMID: 37678265Free PMC Article
Luca P, Alessia G, Camilla RM, Antonio N, Diego M, Federica D, Daria D, Rosalba C, Carlo DV, Daniela L
Neuroradiology 2020 Oct;62(10):1315-1321. Epub 2020 Jul 22 doi: 10.1007/s00234-020-02501-0. PMID: 32700106Free PMC Article
Valero T
Curr Pharm Des 2014;20(35):5507-9. doi: 10.2174/138161282035140911142118. PMID: 24606795
Dominic EA, Ramezani A, Anker SD, Verma M, Mehta N, Rao M
Heart 2014 Apr;100(8):611-8. Epub 2014 Jan 21 doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2013-304657. PMID: 24449718

Recent systematic reviews

Viering DHHM, Vermeltfoort L, Bindels RJM, Deinum J, de Baaij JHF
J Am Soc Nephrol 2023 Nov 1;34(11):1875-1888. Epub 2023 Sep 6 doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000000000224. PMID: 37678265Free PMC Article
Mohebbi M, Mehrpour M, Sanij AD, Mohammadi N, Mirghorbani M
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022 Apr;260(4):1069-1082. Epub 2021 Oct 28 doi: 10.1007/s00417-021-05459-8. PMID: 34709453
Imamura T, Sumitomo N, Muraji S, Mori H, Osada Y, Oyanagi T, Kojima T, Yoshiba S, Kobayashi T, Ono K
Int J Cardiol 2019 Mar 15;279:105-111. Epub 2018 Dec 27 doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.12.064. PMID: 30642644
Batllori M, Molero-Luis M, Ormazabal A, Montero R, Sierra C, Ribes A, Montoya J, Ruiz-Pesini E, O'Callaghan M, Pias L, Nascimento A, Palau F, Armstrong J, Yubero D, Ortigoza-Escobar JD, García-Cazorla A, Artuch R
J Inherit Metab Dis 2018 Nov;41(6):1147-1158. Epub 2018 Jul 4 doi: 10.1007/s10545-018-0224-x. PMID: 29974349
Kabunga P, Lau AK, Phan K, Puranik R, Liang C, Davis RL, Sue CM, Sy RW
Int J Cardiol 2015 Feb 15;181:303-10. Epub 2014 Dec 13 doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.12.038. PMID: 25540845

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