Connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are disorders concerning various natural, structural proteins, typically in fibrous form, that provide mechanical support/security within larger structures such as ligaments and tendons. CTDs are frequently genetic in basis and often inherited.
A prime example is Marfan’s syndrome in which various structures can be affected, including the eyes, bones, blood vessels and cardiac valves. Excessive flexibility in these protein fibres can lead to excessively long bones, pectus carinatum/pectus excavatum, hyper-mobility in joints, aortic dilation, cardiac valve prolapse and dislocated lenses in the eyes.
Other (relatively) common CTDs are Loeys-Dietz syndrome and Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
