Spontaneous pneumothorax and hemothorax frequently precede the arterial and intestinal complications of vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome

Vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a connective tissue disorder due to defective type III collagen production and is associated with arterial rupture, spontaneous intestinal perforation, and gravid uterine rupture. Spontaneous pneumothorax and/or hemothorax (P/HTX) also occurs in vEDS patients. The temporal relation of pulmonary manifestations to arterial and intestinal complications in vEDS has not been well described. This was investigated in a multi-institutional retrospective case series of vEDS patients with confirmatory testing for COL3A1 mutation between 2000 and 2012. Data abstracted included demographics, family histories, presentation, and management of associated complications. Ninety-six cases (39% males, mean age 38.6 ± 15.5 years, range 8–79) had confirmatory testing for vEDS. P/HTX was documented in 17 (17.7%) cases. Most P/HTX preceded the diagnosis of vEDS (81%). Diagnosis of vEDS was made after arterial or intestinal complications at a mean of 7 years (range 0–26) post the initial P/HTX. In conclusion, spontaneous P/HTX is an early manifestation of vEDS frequently preceding an arterial complication or intestinal perforation. Thus, a spontaneous P/HTX in a young patient should trigger a differential diagnosis that includes vEDS. This should lead to an investigation of other vEDS features and subsequent genetic testing if vEDS features are present.