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

King Denborough syndrome



Other Names:
Anesthetic-induced malignant hyperpyrexia in children; King syndrome
Categories:
This disease is grouped under:

The King-Denborough syndrome (KDS) is a congenital myopathy associated with susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia, skeletal abnormalities and dysmorphic features with characteristic facial appearance.[1] Although the cause of King-Denborough syndrome is not fully understood, at least some cases have been attributed to the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR1), which has been tied to malignant hyperthermia and central core disease.[2]
Last updated: 10/17/2013

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
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormality of the coagulation cascade 0003256
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Elevated serum creatine kinase
Elevated blood creatine phosphokinase
Elevated circulating creatine phosphokinase
Elevated creatine kinase
Elevated serum CPK
Elevated serum creatine phosphokinase
High serum creatine kinase
Increased CPK
Increased creatine kinase
Increased creatine phosphokinase
Increased serum CK
Increased serum creatine kinase
Increased serum creatine phosphokinase
[ more ]
0003236
Fever 0001945
Hyperkalemia
Elevated serum potassium levels
0002153
Hyperphosphatemia
High blood phosphate levels
0002905
Hypotension
Low blood pressure
0002615
Malignant hyperthermia 0002047
Mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis 0005967
Myoglobinuria 0002913
Rhabdomyolysis
Breakdown of skeletal muscle
0003201
Rigidity
Muscle rigidity
0002063
Tachycardia
Fast heart rate
Heart racing
Racing heart
[ more ]
0001649
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

The cause of King-Denborough syndrome is not fully understood. At least a portion of the cases may be due to mutations in the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR1).[2]
Last updated: 10/2/2013

The presence of a myopathy associated with a prediposition to malignant hyperthermia suggests an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance with variable expression (the altered gene is expressed in different ways in different people).[1][3]
Last updated: 10/2/2013

The resources below provide information about treatment options for this condition. If you have questions about which treatment is right for you, talk to your healthcare professional.

Management Guidelines

  • Orphanet Emergency Guidelines is an article which is expert-authored and peer-reviewed that is intended to guide health care professionals in emergency situations involving this condition.  

Facial and proximal limb weakness may become more pronounced with increasing age. Thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and scoliosis often develop as the condition progresses.[2]
Last updated: 10/2/2013

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


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.

In-Depth Information

  • 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 King Denborough 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. Submit a new question

  • I was told that my daughter has King-Denborough syndrome. I would like to learn more about this condition, including its complications and prognosis. I would also like to learn how I can contact other parents who are dealing with this condition.  See answer



  1. Reed UC, Resende MB, Ferreira LG, Carvalho MS, Diament A, Scaff M, Marie SK. King-Denborough Syndrome: report of two Brazilian cases. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2002; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12364941. Accessed 10/2/2013.
  2. D'Arcy CE, Bjorksten A, Yiu EM, Bankier A, Gillies R, McLean CA, Shield LK, Ryan MM. King-Denborough Syndrome Caused by a Novel Mutation in the Ryanodine Receptor Gene. Neurology. 2008;
  3. Malignant Hyperthermia, Susceptibility to, 1. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). July 3, 2013; http://omim.org/entry/145600. Accessed 10/2/2013.