Blau Syndrome (BLAUS)

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MedlinePlus Genetics: ⁴² Blau syndrome is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the skin, joints, and eyes. Signs and symptoms begin in childhood, usually before age 4.A form of skin inflammation called granulomatous dermatitis is typically the earliest sign of Blau syndrome. This skin condition causes a persistent rash that can be scaly or involve hard lumps (nodules) that can be felt under the skin. The rash is usually found on the torso, arms, and legs.Arthritis is another common feature of Blau syndrome. In affected individuals, arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints (the synovium). This inflammation, known as synovitis, is associated with swelling and joint pain. Synovitis usually begins in the joints of the hands, feet, wrists, and ankles. As the condition worsens, it can involve additional joints and restrict movement by decreasing the range of motion in many joints. In people with Blau syndrome, the tendons as well as the joints can be inflamed, causing tenosynovitis.Most people with Blau syndrome also develop uveitis, which is swelling and inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (the uvea). The uvea includes the colored portion of the eye (the iris) and related tissues that underlie the white part of the eye (the sclera). Uveitis can cause eye irritation and pain, increased sensitivity to bright light (photophobia), and blurred vision. Other structures in the eye can also become inflamed, including the outermost protective layer of the eye (the conjunctiva), the tear glands, the specialized light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye (the retina), and the nerve that carries information from the eye to the brain (the optic nerve). While individuals with Blau syndrome may have normal vision, inflammation of any of these structures can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness.Some individuals with Blau syndrome develop kidney disease (nephritis) due to inflammation. They may also have deposits of calcium in the kidneys (nephrocalcinosis) and often develop chronic kidney failure. Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) can cause scarring and tissue death in the vessels and impedes blood flow to tissues and organs.Less commonly, Blau syndrome can affect other parts of the body, including the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, brain, blood vessels, lungs, and heart. Inflammation involving these organs and tissues can impair their function and cause life-threatening complications. Rarely, affected individuals have disturbances in nerve function (neuropathy), episodes of fever, or high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).

MalaCards based summary: Blau Syndrome, also known as arthrocutaneouveal granulomatosis, is related to uveitis and sarcoidosis 1. An important gene associated with Blau Syndrome is NOD2 (Nucleotide Binding Oligomerization Domain Containing 2), and among its related pathways/superpathways are Innate Immune System and Disease. Affiliated tissues include skin, eye and kidney, and related phenotypes are arthralgia and joint swelling

OMIM®: ⁵⁷ Blau syndrome is characterized by the triad of granulomatous arthritis, uveitis, and dermatitis. First described in 1985, it was considered to be distinct from sarcoidosis due to the early age of onset and autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Published reports of sporadic cases of children with 'early-onset sarcoidosis' (EOS) with granulomatous involvement of different organs, primarily affecting joints, eyes, and skin, were suspected to represent the same disorder because the patients' characteristics were nearly identical. Subsequently, identical NOD2 mutations were identified in patients with Blau syndrome as well as in patients diagnosed with EOS, confirming earlier suspicions that they represented the same disease (summary by Borzutzky et al., 2010). Unlike older children diagnosed with sarcoidosis, these patients have no apparent pulmonary involvement; however, the disease is progressive and may result in severe complications such as blindness and/or joint destruction (Shetty and Gedalia, 1998). (186580) (Updated 08-Dec-2022)

GARD: ¹⁹ Blau syndrome is a rare condition characterized mainly by skin rash, arthritis, and uveitis. Characteristic findings include synovial effusions (fluid in the joints due to inflammation) and cysts, anterior uveitis (swelling and irritation of the uvea), and focal posterior synechiae (adhesion of the iris to the cornea). Permanent bending of the fingers and toes (camptodactyly) and other findings have also been reported. It is caused by genetic changes in the NOD2 gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Blau syndrome and early-onset sarcoidosis have the same symptoms and genetic cause, but early-onset sarcoidosis is caused by de novo (new) genetic changes and occurs sporadically (in individuals with no history of the disorder in the family).

Orphanet: ⁵⁸ Blau syndrome (BS) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease characterized by early onset granulomatous arthritis, uveitis and skin rash. BS now refers to both the familial and sporadic (formerly early-onset sarcoidosis) form of the same disease. The proposed term pediatric granulomatous arthritis is currently questioned since it fails to represent the systemic nature of the disease.

UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot: ⁷³ An autosomal dominant inflammatory disorder characterized by the formation of immune granulomas invading the skin, joints and eye. Other organs may be involved. Clinical manifestations are variable and include early-onset granulomatous arthritis, uveitis and skin rash. Blindness, joint destruction and visceral involvement have been reported in severe cases.

Disease Ontology: ¹¹ A syndrome characterized by familial granulomatous arthritis, uveitis and skin granulomas. It has material basis in heterozygous mutations in the NOD2 gene.

Wikipedia: ⁷⁵ Blau syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic inflammatory disorder which affects the skin, eyes, and... more...

Clinical features from OMIM®:

Search Clinical Trials, NIH Clinical Center for Blau Syndrome