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1994-01-17
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$Unique_ID{BRK03531}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Bloom Syndrome}
$Subject{Bloom Syndrome Facial Telangiectasis of Dwarfs Levi's Type Dwarfism
Bloom-Torre-Mackacek Syndrome}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1986, 1987, 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders,
Inc.
165:
Bloom Syndrome
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Bloom Syndrome) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Facial Telangiectasis of Dwarfs
Levi's Type Dwarfism
Bloom-Torre-Mackacek Syndrome
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Bloom Syndrome is a hereditary form of dwarfism accompanied by
abnormalities of the facial skin, unusual sensitivity to sunlight, poor
resistance to infections, and, later in life, susceptibility to cancers. It
affects primarily males of Eastern European Jewish descent. Except for the
susceptibility to infections and cancer, Bloom Syndrome patients have
generally good health, especially during infancy and childhood.
Symptoms
Infants with Bloom Syndrome are small at birth and fail to grow to normal
size even though body proportions remain essentially normal throughout
development. The skin is highly sensitive to sunlight, especially on the
face. A reddish rash due to the dilatation of many tiny capillaries beneath
the surface of the skin (telangiectasis) covers the face. There may be
darker or lighter patches of skin on the body.
Affected individuals may also have immunological abnormalities which
render them unusually susceptible to infections of various kinds. In
addition, many patients eventually develop cancer. The observation that the
chromosomes of Bloom Syndrome patients are remarkably fragile may relate to
this.
Patients often have a small, narrow face. Occasionally, there are
abnormalities of the eyes, ears, hands or feet.
Causes
Bloom Syndrome is inherited through an autosomal recessive mechanism. (Human
traits including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the
interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from the father and
one from the mother. In recessive disorders, the condition does not appear
unless a person inherits the same defective gene from each parent. If one
receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a
carrier for the disease, but usually will show no symptoms. The risk of
transmitting the disease to the children of a couple, both of whom are
carriers for a recessive disorder, is twenty-five percent. Fifty percent of
their children will be carriers, but healthy as described above. Twenty-five
percent of their children will receive both normal genes, one from each
parent and will be genetically normal.)
Affected Population
Bloom Syndrome affects persons of Ashkenazic Jewish ancestry most often.
Males seem to be affected more often than females.
Therapies: Standard
Therapy for persons with Bloom Syndrome is symptomatic, e.g., sunscreen,
antibiotics and cancer therapy when necessary.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
January 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Bloom Syndrome, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-5133
Bloom Syndrome Registry
Laboratory of Human Genetics
The New York Blood Center
310 E. 67th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 570-3075
The Magic Foundation
1327 N. Harlem Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 383-0808
Human Growth Foundation (HGF)
7777 Leesburg Pike
P.O. Box 3090
Falls Church, VA 22043
(703) 883-1773
(800) 451-6434
National Foundation for Jewish Genetic Diseases
250 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10177
(212) 682-5550
For information on genetics and genetic counseling referrals, please
contact:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
Smith, Jr., Eds.: W. B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 168, 1113, 1001, 1096.
SMITH'S RECOGNIZABLE PATTERNS OF HUMAN MALFORMATION, 4th ed., Kenneth L.
Jones, M.D., W.B. Saunders, Co. 1988. Pp. 94-5.