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Doolan BJ, Lavallee M, Hausser I, Pope FM, Seneviratne SL, Winship IM, Burrows NP. Dermatologic manifestations and diagnostic assessments of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes: A clinical review. J Am Acad Dermatol 2023; 89:551-559. [PMID: 36764582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDSs) comprise a group of connective tissue disorders that manifest with skin hyperextensibility, easy bruising, joint hypermobility and fragility of skin, soft tissues, and some organs. A correct assessment of cutaneous features along with the use of adjunct technologies can improve diagnostic accuracy. OBJECTIVES To systematically review the cutaneous features and adjunct investigations of EDS. METHODS A search of PubMed and Web of Science for EDS-related cutaneous features and additional investigations was undertaken from publication of the 2017 International Classification of EDS until January 15, 2022. RESULTS One-hundred-and-forty studies involved 839 patients with EDS. The EDS female-to-male ratio was 1.36:1 (P < .001). A high prevalence of skin hyperextensibility, bruising, and soft skin were noted. Most patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome showed venous visibility, skin fragility, and acrogeria. Classical EDS showed subcutaneous spheroids and molluscoid pseudotumours. In patients that underwent skin biopsies, only 30.3% and 71.4% showed features suggestive of EDS using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. LIMITATIONS Retrospective study and small cases numbers for some EDS-subtypes. CONCLUSIONS An accurate clinical diagnosis increases the chances of a molecular diagnosis, particularly for rarer EDS subtypes, whilst decreasing the need for genetic testing where there is a low clinical suspicion for a monogenic EDS-subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent J Doolan
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King's College London, London, UK; St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - Mark Lavallee
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center of Central PA, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ingrid Hausser
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - F Michael Pope
- Department of Dermatology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (West Middlesex University Hospital), London, UK
| | - Suranjith L Seneviratne
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital and University College London, London, UK; Nawaloka Hospital Research and Education Foundation, Nawaloka Hospitals, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Ingrid M Winship
- Department of Genetic Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nigel P Burrows
- Department of Dermatology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
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Bonfioli GB, Rodella L, Rosati R, Carrozza A, Metra M, Vizzardi E. Aortopathies: From Etiology to the Role of Arterial Stiffness. J Clin Med 2023; 12:3949. [PMID: 37373642 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12123949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aorta and aortic wall have a complex biological system of structural, biochemical, biomolecular, and hemodynamic elements. Arterial stiffness could be considered a manifestation of wall structural and functional variations, and it has been revealed to have a strong connection with aortopathies and be a predictor of cardiovascular risk, especially in patients affected by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and nephropathy. Stiffness affects the function of different organs, especially the brain, kidneys, and heart, promoting remodeling of small arteries and endothelial dysfunction. This parameter could be easily evaluated using different methods, but pulse-wave velocity (PWV), the speed of transmission of arterial pressure waves, is considered the gold standard for a good and precise assessment. An increased PWV value indicates an elevated level of aortic stiffness because of the decline in elastin synthesis and activation of proteolysis and the increase in fibrosis that contributes to parietal rigidity. Higher values of PWV could also be found in some genetic diseases, such as Marfan syndrome (MFS) or Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS). Aortic stiffness has emerged as a major new cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, and its evaluation using PWV could be very useful to identify patients with a high cardiovascular risk, giving some important prognostic information but also being used to value the benefits of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Battista Bonfioli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Cardiology University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca Rodella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Cardiology University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta Rosati
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Cardiology University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Carrozza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Cardiology University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Metra
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Cardiology University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Vizzardi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Cardiology University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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de Koning LE, Warnink-Kavelaars J, van Rossum MA, Bosman D, Menke LA, Malfait F, de Boer R, Oosterlaan J, Engelbert RHH, Rombaut L. Somatic symptoms, pain, catastrophizing and the association with disability among children with heritable connective tissue disorders. Am J Med Genet A 2023. [PMID: 37186039 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the nature and prevalence of nonspecific somatic symptoms, pain and catastrophizing in children with Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders (HCTD), and to determine their association with disability. This observational, multicenter study included 127 children, aged 4-18 years, with Marfan syndrome (MFS) (59%), Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) (8%), Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) (12%) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) (23%). The assessments included the Children's Somatization Inventory or parent proxy (CSI, PCSI), pain visual-analogue scale (VAS), SUPERKIDZ body diagram, Pain Catastrophizing Scale Child or parent proxy (PCS-C, PCS-P) and Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ-30). Data from children aged ≥8 years were compared to normative data. In children ≥ 8 years (n = 90), pain was present in 59%, with a median of 4 (IQR = 3-9) pain areas. Compared to normative data, the HCTD group reported significantly higher on the CSI (p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.85), VAS pain intensity (p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.22) and CHAQ-30 (p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.16) and lower on the PCS-C (p = 0.017, d = -0.82) and PCS-P (p ≤ 0.001, d = -0.49). The intensity of nonspecific somatic symptoms and pain explained 45% of the variance in disability (r2 = 0.45 F(2,48) = 19.70, p ≤ 0.001). In children ≤ 7 years (n = 37), pain was present in 35% with a median of 5(IQR = 1-13) pain areas. The mean(SD) VAS scores for pain intensity was 1.5(2.9). Functional disability was moderately correlated to the number of pain areas (r = 0.56, p ≤ 0.001), intensity of nonspecific somatic symptoms (r = 0.63, p ≤ 0.001) and pain (r = 0.83, p ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, this study supports the need for comprehensive assessment of nonspecific somatic symptoms, pain, and disability in children with HCTD to allow tailored treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne E de Koning
- Centre of Expertise Urban Vitality, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica Warnink-Kavelaars
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Rehabilitation and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marion A van Rossum
- Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Diederik Bosman
- Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leonie A Menke
- Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fransiska Malfait
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital/Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rosa de Boer
- Centre of Expertise Urban Vitality, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Oosterlaan
- Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital Amsterdam UMC Follow-Me Program & Emma Neuroscience Group, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Raoul H H Engelbert
- Centre of Expertise Urban Vitality, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Rehabilitation and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lies Rombaut
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital/Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Steinle J, Hossain WA, Veatch OJ, Strom SP, Butler MG. Next-generation sequencing and analysis of consecutive patients referred for connective tissue disorders. Am J Med Genet A 2022; 188:3016-3023. [PMID: 35903967 PMCID: PMC9484002 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTDs) consist of a wide array of genetic disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and osteogenesis imperfecta. The diagnosis relies on clinical presentation and family history to guide genetic testing with next-generation sequencing (NGS) for identification of gene variants in HCTDs. NGS was performed on a cohort of 100 consecutive, unrelated patients referred for a connective tissue disorder at Fulgent Genetics, an accredited commercial laboratory. One hundred seventeen gene variants were found in 76 patients with 10 recognized pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants seen in nine patients. The remaining variants were grouped as unknown clinical significance with 36 meeting three out of four pathogenicity criteria, or potentially pathogenic, as defined in our study in 33 patients. They were judged as potentially pathogenic for clinical care and management with disease surveillance based on the specific gene and phenotypic presentation. Gene variants in collagen-related proteins were the most frequent with ZNF469 and ADAMTSL2 variants most often identified. Joint hypermobility was the most frequent clinical finding. Variants were found in 76% of patients who had distinct clinical features of a HCTD. The data were stratified to provide insight into frequency and types of variants, their classification, and clinical manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Steinle
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Waheeda A. Hossain
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Olivia J. Veatch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Samuel P. Strom
- Fulgent Genetics, Temple City, California, USA
- Illumina, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Merlin G. Butler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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Ritelli M, Colombi M. Molecular Genetics and Pathogenesis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Related Connective Tissue Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11050547. [PMID: 32414079 PMCID: PMC7288446 DOI: 10.3390/genes11050547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTDs) characterized by a variable degree of skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility and tissue fragility. The current EDS classification distinguishes 13 subtypes and 19 different causal genes mainly involved in collagen and extracellular matrix synthesis and maintenance. EDS need to be differentiated from other HCTDs with a variable clinical overlap including Marfan syndrome and related disorders, some types of skeletal dysplasia and cutis laxa. Clinical recognition of EDS is not always straightforward and for a definite diagnosis, molecular testing can be of great assistance, especially in patients with an uncertain phenotype. Currently, the major challenging task in EDS is to unravel the molecular basis of the hypermobile EDS that is the most frequent form, and for which the diagnosis is only clinical in the absence of any definite laboratory test. This EDS subtype, as well as other EDS-reminiscent phenotypes, are currently investigated worldwide to unravel the primary genetic defect and related pathomechanisms. The research articles, case report, and reviews published in this Special Issue focus on different clinical, genetic and molecular aspects of several EDS subtypes and some related disorders, offering novel findings and future research and nosological perspectives.
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Bascom R, Schubart JR, Mills S, Smith T, Zukley LM, Francomano CA, McDonnell N. Heritable disorders of connective tissue: Description of a data repository and initial cohort characterization. Am J Med Genet A 2019; 179:552-560. [PMID: 30706611 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We describe a data repository on heritable disorders of connective tissue (HDCT) assembled by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural Research Program between 2001 and 2013. Participants included affected persons with a wide range of heritable connective tissue phenotypes, and unaffected family members. Elements include comprehensive history and physical examination, standardized laboratory data, physiologic measures and imaging, standardized patient-reported outcome measures, and an extensive linked biorepository. The NIA made a commitment to make the repository available to extramural investigators and deposited samples at Coriell Tissue Repository (N = 126) and GenTAC registry (N = 132). The clinical dataset was transferred to Penn State University College of Medicine Clinical and Translational Science Institute in 2016, and data elements inventoried. The consented cohort of 1,009 participants averaged 39 ± 18 years (mean ± SD, range 2-95) at consent; gender distribution is 71% F and 83% self-report Caucasian ethnicity. Diagnostic categories include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (classical N = 50, hypermobile N = 99, vascular N = 101, rare types and unclassified N = 178), Marfan syndrome (N = 33), Stickler syndrome (N = 60), fibromuscular dysplasia (N = 135), Other HDCT (N = 72). Unaffected family members (N = 218) contributed DNA for the molecular archive only. We aim to develop further discrete data from unstructured elements, analyze multisymptom HDCT manifestations, encourage data use by other researchers and thereby better understand the complexity of these high-morbidity conditions and their multifaceted effects on affected persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Bascom
- Department of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Jane R Schubart
- Department of Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Susan Mills
- Department of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.,National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Thomas Smith
- National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Linda M Zukley
- National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Clair A Francomano
- National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,Ehlers-Danlos Society Center for Clinical Care and Research, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nazli McDonnell
- National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,Veteran's Administration, Eastern Colorado Health System, Denver, Colorado
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Daniels ML, Birchard KR, Lowe JR, Patrone MV, Noone PG, Knowles MR. Enlarged Dural Sac in Idiopathic Bronchiectasis Implicates Heritable Connective Tissue Gene Variants. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2016; 13:1712-20. [PMID: 27409985 DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201603-161OC] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis are predominantly female and have an asthenic body morphotype and frequent nontuberculous mycobacterial respiratory infections. They also demonstrate phenotypic features (scoliosis, pectus deformity, mitral valve prolapse) that are commonly seen in individuals with heritable connective tissue disorders. OBJECTIVES To determine whether lumbar dural sac size is increased in patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis as compared with control subjects, and to assess whether dural sac size is correlated with phenotypic characteristics seen in individuals with heritable connective tissue disorders. METHODS Two readers blinded to diagnosis measured anterior-posterior and transverse dural sac diameter using L1-L5 magnetic resonance images of 71 patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis, 72 control subjects without lung disease, 29 patients with cystic fibrosis, and 24 patients with Marfan syndrome. We compared groups by pairwise analysis of means, using Tukey's method to adjust for multiple comparisons. Dural sac diameter association with phenotypic and clinical features was also tested. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The L1-L5 (average) anterior-posterior dural sac diameter of the idiopathic bronchiectasis group was larger than those of the control group (P < 0.001) and the cystic fibrosis group (P = 0.002). There was a strong correlation between increased dural sac size and the presence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (P = 0.007) and long fingers (P = 0.003). A trend toward larger dural sac diameter was seen in those with scoliosis (P = 0.130) and those with a family history of idiopathic bronchiectasis (P = 0.149). CONCLUSIONS Individuals with idiopathic bronchiectasis have an enlarged dural sac diameter, which is associated with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection, long fingers, and family history of idiopathic bronchiectasis. These findings support our hypothesis that "idiopathic" bronchiectasis development reflects complex genetic variation in heritable connective tissue and associated transforming growth factor-β-related pathway genes.
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Brady AF, Demirdas S, Fournel-Gigleux S, Ghali N, Giunta C, Kapferer-Seebacher I, Kosho T, Mendoza-Londono R, Pope MF, Rohrbach M, Van Damme T, Vandersteen A, van Mourik C, Voermans N, Zschocke J, Malfait F. The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, rare types. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 2017; 175:70-115. [PMID: 28306225 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes comprise a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders, which are characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue friability. In the Villefranche Nosology, six subtypes were recognized: The classical, hypermobile, vascular, kyphoscoliotic, arthrochalasis, and dermatosparaxis subtypes of EDS. Except for the hypermobile subtype, defects had been identified in fibrillar collagens or in collagen-modifying enzymes. Since 1997, a whole spectrum of novel, clinically overlapping, rare EDS-variants have been delineated and genetic defects have been identified in an array of other extracellular matrix genes. Advances in molecular testing have made it possible to now identify the causative mutation for many patients presenting these phenotypes. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the current knowledge on the rare EDS subtypes and highlight areas for future research. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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