Collagen Connective Tissue Disorders

What is a Collagen Connective Tissue Disorder?

Collagen gives strength and cohesion to bones, joints, muscles, blood vessels and skin, among other things. In Collagen Connective Tissue Disorders this connective tissue works differently. The consequences can therefore affect the whole body.

Collagen is the rope that holds your body together

Collagen is a protein that runs through your whole body as strong, interwoven fibres: in bones, muscles, skin, tendons and blood vessels.

In a CBA the body produces this protein incorrectly. The fibres are thinner, weaker or wrongly built — so the “rope” frays and the body loses its strength.

Strong collagen

fibres grip each other firmly

Weak collagen

fibres fray and break

Weak collagen affects the whole body

Brittle bones and cartilage

Bones break more easily and cartilage wears faster. This leads to painful joints, instability and a higher risk of osteoporosis or osteoarthritis.

Skin, tendons and muscles

The skin loses elasticity and becomes fragile. Tendons and muscles are overloaded or tear more easily, because the supporting tissue does not absorb forces well.

Organs and blood vessels

Internal connective tissue weakens, so organs are supported less well. Weak collagen makes vessel walls fragile, with a risk of aneurysms and bleeding.

This affects us

Behind every number is someone who lives with the consequences of weak collagen every day. This is how the symptoms are distributed:

30.000+

people in the Netherlands live with a CBA

23.000+

live with painful muscles

4.500+

have fragile blood vessels

4 in 10

are estimated to depend on a wheelchair

Around 4 in 10 depend on a wheelchair

Around 40% of people with a CBA depend on a wheelchair. That is why, alongside our research into medication, we work with Freedom on Wheels towards a more wheelchair-accessible Netherlands.

Sterk voor Bindweefsel werkt aan Vrijheid op Wielen voor inclusiviteit en toegankelijkheid

Why are there so many disorders?

Collagen connective tissue is found throughout the body and comes in different types. Six hereditary collagen types can cause serious connective tissue disorders. Depending on which type is affected, a different clinical picture arises, with life-defining consequences.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Marfan syndrome
Loeys-Dietz syndrome
Stickler syndrome
Alport syndrome
Bruck syndrome
Collagen VI-related disorders
Other inherited collagen and connective tissue disorders

Rare, but numerous together

Each condition is rare on its own. Together, they affect more than 30,000 people. By sharing knowledge and exploring common underlying mechanisms, we aim to accelerate research, improve recognition and advance treatment.

±1

600

About 1 in 600 people in the Netherlands lives with a Collagen Connective Tissue Disorder. There is no cure yet.

We believe in connection: by coming together, we can learn from the important similarities in connective tissue and the biological mechanisms involved.

Research & Development

We bring people, knowledge and research together to speed up the road to effective treatments and to improve quality of life.

Effective medication

Research into ways to cure CBA, from fundamental research to clinical application.

Anxiety- and pain-free treatment

Treatments that minimise traumatic experiences and improve quality of life.

Wheelchair accessibility

With Freedom on Wheels we work towards a more accessible Netherlands.

There is no cure yet. Not yet.

Your support brings research into a cure closer.

Support the research