Kisho is an information platform, not a medical provider. Nothing on this site constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. All content is aggregated from publicly available sources (including ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, FDA.gov, and Orphanet) and is provided for informational purposes only. Clinical trial eligibility, treatment decisions, and any health-related actions should always be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. Kisho does not endorse any specific therapy, organization, or clinical trial. Terms of use · Privacy policy
Features include always present findings: Epicanthus, Intellectual disability, Global developmental delay, and Blepharophimosis; and very common findings: Thin upper lip vermilion. 68 total HPO annotations.
Data assembled from 7 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 20, 2026, 5:50 AM UTC
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
European rare disease database
Common questions about blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome
Organ System | Phenotype Count | Example Features |
|---|---|---|
Brain and nerves | 5 | Seizure, Intellectual disability, Global developmental delay |
Arms and legs | 4 | Tapered finger, Clinodactyly of the 5th finger, Aplastic/hypoplastic toenail |
Bones and joints | 3 | Delayed skeletal maturation, Joint hypermobility, Sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis) |
Muscles | 2 | Flexion contracture, Low muscle tone (hypotonia) |
Digestive system | 2 | Gastroesophageal reflux, Feeding difficulties |
Head and neck | 2 | Flat face, Thin upper lip vermilion |
Lungs and breathing | 2 | Recurrent bronchitis, Recurrent pneumonia |
Kidneys and urinary system | 1 | Recurrent urinary tract infections |
Blood and immune system | 1 | Recurrent urinary tract infections |
Eyes | 1 | Ptosis |
SMARC2-related Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome (SMARC2-NCBRS) is characterized by commonly shared dysmorphic features including sparse scalp hair, prominence of the interphalangeal joints and distal phalanges due to decreased subcutaneous fat, characteristic coarse facial features, microcephaly, seizures, and developmental delay/ intellectual disability. Seizures are of various types and can be difficult to manage. Developmental delay/ intellectual disability is severe in nearly half of affected individuals, moderate in one third, and mild in the remainder. Nearly one third never develop speech or language skills . To date, at least 80 individuals have been identified with a pathogenic variant in SMARCA2 . The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports. Table 2. SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome: Frequency of Select Features
Finding | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Intellectual disability | 100% | Most often in severe range |
Sparse hair | 97% | — |
Prominent interphalangeal joints | 84% | — |
Coarse facies | 80% | — |
Epilepsy | 65% | May be difficult to manage |
Microcephaly | 64% | Most often acquired |
Cryptorchidism in males | 60% | — |
Hypo- or oligodontia | 20% | Frequently requiring surgical extraction Developmental delay (DD) and intellectual disability (ID). Nearly half of affected individuals experience severe DD/ID with particular delays in speech and language development. |
Source: GeneReviews — "SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome"
SMARCA2 function has not been fully characterized.
Blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome is associated with mutations in the SMARCA2 gene on chromosome 9.
No clear clinically relevant genotype-phenotype correlations have been noted; however, all individuals with a pathogenic variant within the C-terminal helicase region of the ATPase domain have severe intellectual disability and epilepsy, a frequency higher than that in individuals with pathogenic variants in other parts of the gene. More than half of all individuals with SMARCA2-NCBRS reported have a pathogenic variant within the C-terminal helicase region .
Source: GeneReviews — "SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome"
Consensus clinical diagnostic criteria for SMARC2-related Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome (SMARC2-NCBRS) have not been established.
SMARCA2-NCBRS should be considered in probands with the following clinical and radiographic findings and family history.
Clinical findings
Developmental delay/ intellectual disability (DD/ID), most commonly in the severe range but with some having either mild or moderate DD/ID
Sparse scalp hair
Prominence of the interphalangeal joints and distal phalanges secondary to poor subcutaneous fat distribution (See and .)
Characteristic facial features (see , Facial features) that can be subtle in the newborn period and in early childhood, with coarsening of the face and increased skin wrinkling over time (See .)
Microcephaly
Seizures
Source: GeneReviews — "SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome"
Genetic disorders of interest in the differential diagnosis of SMARCA2-related Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome (SMARCA2-NCBRS) are listed in .
Table 3.
Genes of Interest in the Differential Diagnosis of SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome
Gene(s) | Disorder | MOI | Features Overlapping w/SMARCA2-NCBRS | Features Distinguishing from SMARCA2-NCBRS
ARID1A
ARID1B
ARID2
DPF2
SMARCA4
SMARCB1
SMARCC2
SMARCE1
SOX4
| Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS)1 | AD2 | Coarse facial features that can be similar to those in SMARCA2-NCBRS | • Digital findings are particularly helpful in differentiating these disorders: persons w/SMARCA2-NCBRS uniquely have prominent interphalangeal joints do not have hypoplasia of the 5th digits.
Source: GeneReviews — "SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome"
Genetic testing for SMARCA2 is available. Testing is considered confirmatory for diagnosis.
Biomarker and diagnostic research for blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome has been reported in the published literature.
No approved treatments are currently available for blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
No clinical practice guidelines for SMARCA2-related Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome (SMARCA2-NCBRS) have been published. In the absence of published guidelines, the following recommendations are based on the authors' personal experience managing individuals with this disorder.
To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with SMARCA2-NCBRS, the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to diagnosis) are recommended.
Table 4:
SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome: Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment
| Measure growth parameters, incl head circumference | To assess for microcephaly short stature
| Neurologic eval | Consider EEG if seizures are a concern.
| Developmental assessment | • To incl motor, adaptive, cognitive, speech-language eval
Eval for early intervention/ special education
Neurobehavioral/
| Neuropsychiatric eval | For persons age 12 mos: screening for concerns incl behavioral issues /or findings suggestive of ASD
| Orthopedics/ physical medicine rehab/ PT OT eval | To incl assessment of:
Gross motor fine motor skills
Mobility, ADL, need for adaptive devices
Need for PT (to improve gross motor skills) /or OT (to improve fine motor skills)
Gastrointestinal/
| Gastroenterology/ nutrition/ feeding team eval | • To incl eval of aspiration risk nutritional sta...
Source: GeneReviews — "SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome"
Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.
Source: GeneReviews — "SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome"
View trials for blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome
To monitor existing manifestations, the individual's response to supportive care, and the emergence of new manifestations, the evaluations summarized in are recommended. Table 6. SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome: Recommended Surveillance
System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
Eyes | Ophthalmologic eval | Per treating ophthalmologist |
ENT/Mouth | Dental eval | At least every 6 mos after eruption of 1st dentition |
Hearing | Audiologic eval | Annually in childhood OT = occupational therapy; PT = physical therapy |
Source: GeneReviews — "SMARCA2-Related Nicolaides-Baraitser Syndrome"
Phenotype severity distribution: 4 always present features, 1 very common feature, 21 common features.
Estimated prevalence: <1 in 1,000,000 (VERY_RARE).
No clinical trials have been registered for blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome.
204 publications have been identified in PubMed for blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome. Kisho has analyzed 93 by research type. Research spans Review / Meta-Analysis (33%), Basic Science / Preclinical (32%), and Case Report / Case Series (12%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Research summaries | 31 | 33% |
Laboratory research | 30 | 32% |
Patient case studies | 11 | 12% |
Disease patterns and progression | 11 | 12% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 6 | 6% |
New treatment approaches | 3 | 3% |
Clinical study results | 1 | 1% |
Yue SL (2026). [PMID: 41652658](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41652658/). *Am J Med Genet A*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Lattke M (2026). [PMID: 41545595](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41545595/). *Nat Med*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Trofimovs J (2026). [PMID: 42057464](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42057464/). *Cancer Med*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Khan I (2026). [PMID: 32965902](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32965902/). *Unknown Journal*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Sarimski K (2026). [PMID: 41979662](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41979662/). *Nervenarzt*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Anderson EN (2026). [PMID: 41468891](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41468891/). *Am J Hum Genet*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Premachandran S (2025). [PMID: 39945731](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39945731/). *Pain*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Mulvey A (2025). [PMID: 39901030](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39901030/). *Nat Rev Drug Discov*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Godler DE (2025). [PMID: 39804213](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39804213/). *Curr Opin Psychiatry*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Liu H (2025). [PMID: 40836298](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40836298/). *BMC Med Genomics*. [Case Report / Case Series]