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Living with Cobb syndrome

A rare condition with blood vessel malformations in the skin, muscle, bone, and spinal cord in the same body segment.

Understanding Cobb syndrome

Cobb syndrome is defined by vascular lesions in the skin, muscle, bone, and spinal cord that sit in the same body segment, or metamere.

The lesions are venous or arteriovenous (involving veins and arteries). They can involve one or many of the 31 spinal segments. Only 16% of the spinal cord lesions are multiple and clearly follow a segment pattern. GARD lists onset at any time in life.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Blood vessel malformations (arteriovenous)
  • Spinal cord and spine differences
  • Bone pain
  • Fatty skin lumps (cutaneous angiolipomas)
  • Nerve damage affecting feeling
  • Tiredness and increased reflexes

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and skin, hair, and nail specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Children's Skin Disease Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which imaging shows the extent of the malformations?
How should the spinal cord be monitored?
Which specialists should be on my care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startany time in life

GARD doesn't describe a cause for this condition yet.

NeurologicalSkin

Also known as: cobb's syndrome; cutaneomeningospinal angiomatosis; sams 1-31; spinal arteriovenous metameric syndrome

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Cobb syndromeGARD ID 11892 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Cobb syndrome.

Explore the Cobb syndrome blog

Explore research for Cobb syndrome

Explore actively recruiting Cobb syndrome studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Cobb syndrome with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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I can help you find recruiting Cobb syndrome studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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