Cockayne’s syndrome /kok·ānz′/ [Edward Alfred Cockayne, English physician, 1880–1956] , a rare autosomal-recessive syndrome of dwarfism with retinal atrophy and deafness, associated with progeria, prognathism, cognitive impairment, and photosensitivity. Features include a failure to thrive, microcephaly, and impaired development of the nervous system. The syndrome has three subtypes. Classical, or type I, Cockayne’s syndrome has an onset during early childhood. Type II has more severe symptoms and is apparent at birth. Type III has the mildest symptoms of the three types and appears later in childhood.
