Role of connective tissue dysplasia in obstetrics and gynecology

Abstract

A review of literature on the problem of connective tissue dysplasia in obstetric and gynecological practice is presented. The questions of terminology, classification, clinical manifestations and diagnosis are surveyed. Currently, many experts note the change of the classical clinical course of a significant number of internal diseases, increased prevalence of allergic and autoimmune diseases. Since the 90s of the last century, connective tissue dysplasia is considered one of the main reasons of the above mentioned conditions. Connective tissue dysplasia is the malformation, which is the basis of a significant number of internal diseases, with diverse symptoms and no clear diagnostic criteria. Researches on connective tissue dysplasia are mainly focused on cardiologic and pulmonary diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and autoimmune processes. Researches addressing connective tissue diseases in a number of gynecological diseases and conditions in obstetrics appeared only recently. The presence of connective tissue dysplasia in women is a major problem in obstetrics and gynecology. Most reliable biochemical and molecular genetic studies are currently unavailable to a practicing doctor due to technical difficulties and considerable cost. So clinical-genealogical method of examination of patients and their families, as well as the widespread use of instrumental diagnostic methods are of special importance. Obstetricians and gynecologists while managing such patients should pay close attention to the phenotypic features of connective tissue dysplasia and carefully evaluate the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, blood coagulation to avoid possible serious, often life-threatening, complications.