National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Chediak-Higashi syndrome



Chediak-Higashi syndrome is a genetic syndrome that affects the immune system, as well as other parts of the body. Signs and symptoms include a weakened immune system, repeated and persistent infections beginning in infancy and childhood, oculocutaneous albinism, blood clotting problems, and nervous system abnormalities (e.g., weakness, difficulty walking, and seizures). Complications from this syndrome can become life-threatening. It is caused by mutations in the LYST gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion.[1]
Last updated: 11/7/2011

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of multiple cell lineages in the bone marrow 0012145
Anemia
Low number of red blood cells or hemoglobin
0001903
Areflexia
Absent tendon reflexes
0001284
Bruising susceptibility
Bruise easily
Easy bruisability
Easy bruising
[ more ]
0000978
Fever 0001945
Generalized hypopigmentation
Fair skin
Pale pigmentation
[ more ]
0007513
Gingival bleeding
Bleeding gums
0000225
Global developmental delay 0001263
Hepatomegaly
Enlarged liver
0002240
Immunodeficiency
Decreased immune function
0002721
Iris hypopigmentation
Light eye color
0007730
Lymphadenopathy
Swollen lymph nodes
0002716
Neutropenia
Low blood neutrophil count
Low neutrophil count
[ more ]
0001875
Paresthesia
Pins and needles feeling
Tingling
[ more ]
0003401
Periodontitis 0000704
Recurrent cutaneous abscess formation 0100838
Recurrent respiratory infections
Frequent respiratory infections
Multiple respiratory infections
respiratory infections, recurrent
Susceptibility to respiratory infections
[ more ]
0002205
Skin ulcer
Open skin sore
0200042
Splenomegaly
Increased spleen size
0001744
Thrombocytopenia
Low platelet count
0001873
White hair 0011364
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Amblyopia
Lazy eye
Wandering eye
[ more ]
0000646
Edema
Fluid retention
Water retention
[ more ]
0000969
Epistaxis
Bloody nose
Frequent nosebleeds
Nose bleed
Nose bleeding
Nosebleed
[ more ]
0000421
Lymphoma
Cancer of lymphatic system
0002665
Nystagmus
Involuntary, rapid, rhythmic eye movements
0000639
Photophobia
Extreme sensitivity of the eyes to light
Light hypersensitivity
[ more ]
0000613
Seizure 0001250
Tremor 0001337
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Ataxia 0001251
Atrial septal defect
An opening in the wall separating the top two chambers of the heart
Hole in heart wall separating two upper heart chambers
[ more ]
0001631
Bradykinesia
Slow movements
Slowness of movements
[ more ]
0002067
Cerebellar atrophy
Degeneration of cerebellum
0001272
Developmental regression
Loss of developmental milestones
Mental deterioration in childhood
[ more ]
0002376
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Gastrointestinal bleeding
0002239
Generalized hyperpigmentation 0007440
Melanocytic nevus
Beauty mark
0000995
Rigidity
Muscle rigidity
0002063
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Cranial nerve paralysis 0006824
Decreased nerve conduction velocity 0000762
Foot dorsiflexor weakness
Foot drop
0009027
Gait disturbance
Abnormal gait
Abnormal walk
Impaired gait
[ more ]
0001288
Giant melanosomes in melanocytes 0005592
Gingivitis
Inflamed gums
Red and swollen gums
[ more ]
0000230
Hypopigmentation of hair
Loss of hair color
0005599
Hypopigmentation of the skin
Patchy lightened skin
0001010
Hyporeflexia
Decreased reflex response
Decreased reflexes
[ more ]
0001265
Intellectual disability
Mental deficiency
Mental retardation
Mental retardation, nonspecific
Mental-retardation
[ more ]
0001249
Jaundice
Yellow skin
Yellowing of the skin
[ more ]
0000952
Leukopenia
Decreased blood leukocyte number
Low white blood cell count
[ more ]
0001882
Macular hypoplasia 0001104
Neurodegeneration
Ongoing loss of nerve cells
0002180
Progressive peripheral neuropathy 0007133
Recurrent bacterial skin infections 0005406
Recurrent systemic pyogenic infections 0005429
Reduced visual acuity
Decreased clarity of vision
0007663
Strabismus
Cross-eyed
Squint
Squint eyes
[ more ]
0000486
Visual impairment
Impaired vision
Loss of eyesight
Poor vision
[ more ]
0000505
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources


Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
Differential diagnoses include oculocutaneous albinism, Hermansky Pudlak syndrome (specifically HPS-2 caused by mutations in AP3B1), Cross syndrome and Griscelli disease (see these terms).
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Chediak-Higashi syndrome. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition for patients and caregivers. 
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Chediak Higashi syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. 2008; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/chediak-higashi-syndrome. Accessed 11/7/2011.