Gastrointestinal involvement in Ehlers–Danlos syndrome classical-like type 2 associated with a novel AEBP1 splice-site variant

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome classical-like type 2 (clEDS2) is a rare autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in the gene encoding adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 ( AEBP1 ). While cutaneous and skeletal manifestations are commonly observed, gastrointestinal complications, including bowel rupture, have been reported only rarely, and their histopathological basis remains poorly characterized. Here, we report findings of molecular investigations, gastrointestinal histopathological evaluation, and long-term clinical follow-up in the 16th reported patient with AEBP1 -related clEDS2, complicated by spontaneous bowel perforation. A homozygous AEBP1 splice-site variant (NM_001129.5:c.1401-2 A > G) was identified by a custom next-generation sequencing–based panel analysis for hereditary connective tissue disorders. Transcript-level analysis by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing demonstrated complete skipping of exon 12, resulting in a frameshift and predicted loss of function. Clinically, the patient experienced postoperative perforation in the sigmoid colon shortly after rectal cancer surgery, followed nearly 20 years later by spontaneous small intestinal perforation. Histopathological examination of the affected colonic tissue demonstrated mildly widened intermuscular spaces without other overt structural abnormalities. Notably, repeated upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures were performed during long-term oncological surveillance without procedure-related bowel perforation. This observation could offer an opportunity to learn about gastrointestinal involvement in AEBP1 -related clEDS2 and suggests that its gastrointestinal manifestations may differ in clinical context from those typically associated with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, warranting further investigation as additional cases are accumulated.