Abstract

Nicolaides–Baraitser syndrome (NCBRS) is a rare genetic condition caused by de novo missense mutations in the SMARCA2 gene and has only been reported in less than 100 cases worldwide. NCBRS is a distinct condition and well recognizable once the symptoms have been identified.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of Nicolaides–Baraitser syndrome are mild to severe developmental delays with absent or limited speech, seizures, short stature, sparse hair, typical facial characteristics, brachydactyly, and prominent finger joints and broad distal phalanges.

Major Features of Nicolaides–Baraitser Syndrome

Mild prenatal growth retardation

Moderate postnatal growth retardation

Mild to severe developmental delay

Severely impaired speech

Seizures

Microcephaly

Sparse hair

Progressive skin wrinkling

Thick, anteverted alae nasi

Long and broad philtrum

Large mouth

Thin upper and thick lower vermilion

Progressive prominence of distal phalanges

Progressive prominence of inter-phalangeal joints

Short metacarpals–metatarsals

Naming

Paola Nicolaides was a pediatric neurologist and Michael Baraitser a clinical geneticist, both working in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London. They saw a young girl with an unusual combination of signs and symptoms, and thought this to be a recognizable entity. They published this in a medical journal in 1993. Other authors later suggested to name the entity after the authors who had first described it.