Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is caused by mutations of COL3A1 gene coding for type III collagen. The main clinical features involve a propensity to arterial tears leading to several life-threatening conditions and intensive care unit admission. We, herein, report the case of a 34-year-old woman presenting with an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Endovascular coil treatment was attempted; however, the procedure was complicated by dissection of the left iliac artery and abdominal aorta. Hospital management was marked by a series of vascular and haemorrhagic complications. These events, together with some distinctive physical features and medical history, raised the suspicion of vascular type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Neurological evolution was not favourable, and the patient evolved to brain death. Genetic testing was available postmortem and identified a mutation in the COL3A1 gene. This case illustrates the importance of medical history and clinical suspicion for diagnosis, which often goes unnoticed until major complications occur.
Recurrent pneumothorax and intrapulmonary cavitary lesions in a male patient with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and a novel missense mutation in the COL3A1 gene: a case report
