[Hereditary deficiency in the enzymes of the biosynthesis of collagen. The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (author's transl)].

The mechanism of the biosynthetic pathway of collagen is briefly summarised. The hereditary enzyme deficiencies of this pathway concern some of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Seven clinically well defined varieties of these syndromes have been recognized, all presenting, as common feature, an hyperextensivitry of joints and hyperelastic, excessively fragile skin. In three of these seven varieties, the enzyme defect has been recently discovered: the type V (associated with chromosome X) is characterized by the deficiency in the lysyl-oxidase, the type VI (ocular) by the deficiency in lysyl-hydroylase; in the type VII (arthrolaxis multiplex congenita) the activity of tropocollagen-peptidase is practically absent. These enzyme deficiencies provide a molecular basis for the interpretation of the pathogenesis of these varieties of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.