Bloom+Syndrome

= __Bloom Syndrome- What is it?__ =  Bloom syndrome is a genetic disorder which most commmonly causes a butterfly shaped red rash (seen below) to appear across the face due to dialated blood vessels that are present, as well as other symtoms. It was first discovered by dermitologist Dr. David Bloom in 1954. It is primarily reported in children of an Eatern Europe Ashkenazi Jewish backround, but can also be reported in children of other ethnic backgrounds. Some of the other symtoms of this syndrome include secondary diabetes (diabetes caused by another diesase), high pitched voice, a long and narrow face, small lower jaw, extremely weak immune system, delay in growth, failed fertility in men (and in some cases women), and failed pigmintation in the facial region.

**__What causes Bloom Syndrome?__**
 Bloom syndrome is developed after first exposure to the sun's rays. This is what causes the failed pigmintation on the face, as well as the rash and dialated blood vessels. It is passed down from both parents and if only 1 parent has it, then the offspring of a normal person and a bloom syndrome -patient will not have the syndrome. If both parents carry the diesease, then there is a 1 in 4 chance of their child inheriting this diesease. When two cells split for mitosis, the gene for Bloom syndrome gets duplicated in DNA replication, so the gene is passed on from cell to cell, further infecting the host body. It is commonly caused by chromosomal breaks and rearrangements. Someone who has Bloom Syndrome is 3x as likely to develop Corectal Cancer than a regular person.

 [] - click here to see a video on Bloom Syndrome.  

__﻿Is Bloom Syndrome fatal?__
 The majority of children who inherit Bloom syndrome are diagnosed with either Leukemia or Lymphoma. Most of these cases are fatal, and the infected child will die by age 30. The intellegence levels of a child with Bloom Syndrome are not usually affected, but in some rare cases, mental retardation have been reported.

**__How can Bloom syndrome be prevented/how is it treated?__**
 ﻿ Unfortunantly, Bloom syndrome has no known cure and cannot be treated.It can be helpful to reduce skin contact with sunlight or x-ray radiation. But there is ways for parents who both carry the diesease to prevent their kids from inheriting this awful syndrome. People who carry this diesease and plan on having children can get genetically tested to see if there child is at risk for inheriting this diesease. If parents are unsure of there ethnic heritage, then they should be tested to see if they do come from Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

 -1 in 100 Ashkenazi Jewish people are unaffected carriers of Bloom Syndrome. -Carriers of the Syndrome have extremly high chances off being diagnosed with cancer. -There is a 50% chance of two carriers having a child that is an unaffected carrier of Bloom Syndrome. -Bloom Syndrome is classified as a autosomal recessive diesease. -Due to the height disorder, people with Bloom Syndrome never reach an adult height of more than 5 feet. -As well as the rash across the face, the rash due to sun exposure can also soread to the hand and arms. -Due to the failed sperm reproduction, men usually cannot father children. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">-Due to the disorder, women can experience failed fetility adn menopause earlier in their life. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">-Having Bloom Syndrome also increases the risk of having tumors in younger children. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">-People with the disorder often have low birth weight and length, and remain much shorter and thinner than others in their family.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">__<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0068; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%; vertical-align: auto;">﻿By Caroline Schlobohm __