The purpose of this research is to investigate a group of genetic disorders called the Hereditary Disorders of Connective Tissue and describe the health problems associated with these conditions. These disorders and their prominent symptoms include:

• Marfan Syndrome--vascular dilatation (enlargement) and dissection (a tear in the lining), skeletal abnormalities
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome--soft fragile skin, bleeding problems, joint laxity (looseness), chronic pain
• Stickler Syndrome--premature osteoarthritis, bifid uvula (a split in the fleshy lobe hanging down from the soft palate), cleft palate, hearing loss, vitreoretinal degeneration (degeneration of the retina and the transparent gel that fills the inner portion of the eyeball between the lens and the retina)

People who have a known or strongly suspected diagnosis are eligible to participate. At the NIA ASTRA unit at Harbor Hospital, a study investigator will obtain a detailed medical history and perform a physical examination on participants. These evaluations will occur every 2 years for 5 years. Additional studies may include an echocardiogram, ECG, Holter study, bone densitometry, blood and urine tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/MRA studies and vascular studies. A skin biopsy may be done with a separate consent for some participants. Questionnaires about pain and quality of life will be completed by participants.

Participants may be self-referred or referred by physician, nurses, genetic counselors, or other health professionals, support groups, and family members. With the exception of male and minority participants we are not actively recruiting new research participants because the number of self-referrals through support groups and enrolled family members have been sufficient.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Established or strongly suspected diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos, Marfan, or Stickler syndrome within immediate family
• Personal or family history of one or more of the following features in a pattern suggestive of a heritable connective tissue disorder: Marfanoid body habitus (unusually long limbs and digits, deformation of the chest wall), aortic dilatation and/or dissection (a large vessel that comes out of the heart), aneurysms (balloon shaped enlargements) in other vessels, ectopia lentis (dislocation of the lens of the eye), detached retina (separation of the retina from the eyeball), vitreous degeneration (degeneration of the gel that fills the eye) and/or early onset high myopia (near-sightedness), cleft palate, joint laxity and/or dislocation, premature osteoarthritis, skin fragility, striae (stretch marks), easy bruising, and/or hyperextensible skin, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), spondylolisthesis (slippage of the bones of the spine) and/or dural ectasia (distortion of the lining of the spinal cord), high frequency sensorineural hearing loss (inability to hear certain sounds due to nerve impairment)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide informed consent
• Pregnant and nursing women may be limited in their participation in some aspects of the study (e.g. ionizing radiation exposure or MRI) during the time that they are pregnant or nursing