[Collagen type I, III, IV and V and fibronectin in skin biopsies of patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and cutis laxa].

Immunofluorescence was employed to study distribution of collagen type I, III, IV and V, and fibronectin in skin biopsy specimens from patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and cutis laxa. Abnormal distribution of collagen type V in the skin biopsies was found out in EDS type VII. A high level of dermal fibronectin occurred in EDS type III. Tissue fibronectin was absent in the skin extracellular matrix in EDS type X. Defective distribution of collagen, predominantly of type III and V and fibronectin absence were registered in the skin connective tissue in cutis laxa.