Validation of beighton score and prevalence of connective tissue signs in 773 Dutch children

• Published in: Journal of rheumatology 2001-12, Vol.28 (12), p.2726-2730
• Main Authors: VAN DER GIESSEN, Lianne J, LIEKENS, Debbie, RUTGERS, Kim J. M, HARTMAN, Annelies, MULDER, Paul G. H, ORANJE, Arnold P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Elbow Joint - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Joint Instability - epidemiology; Joint Instability - physiopathology; Knee Joint - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Netherlands - epidemiology; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
• ISSN: 0315-162X; 1499-2752

OBJECTIVE: Validation of the Beighton Score and the prevalence of connective tissue signs were investigated in Dutch children. METHODS: Hypermobility investigation according to Beighton was undertaken in 773 healthy children aged 4-12 years. An inventory of the signs that fitted with connective tissue disorders was compiled. RESULTS: The percentage of general hypermobility at a cutoff point of > or = 4 was 26.5% (range 11.4-49%) in children aged 4-9 yrs. At the age of 10-12 yrs, this percentage was 5.3% (range 0-7.1%). There was good agreement (kappa = 0.65) between the measurement on the left and the right sides at all ages. Of the investigated connective tissue signs, thin transparent skin was noted in 0.1%, blue sclerae in 0.1%, and an elevated palate in 2.3% of the children. It was observed that 8.2% of the children were able to touch their nose with their tongue (Gorlin's sign) and 23.7% were able to touch their chin. The other signs were not observed in any of the children. CONCLUSION: We validated the criteria for performing the Beighton Score in (Dutch) children. A cutoff point of > or = 5 should be chosen for Dutch children aged between 4 and 9 years. It appeared that one-sided Beighton Score could be determined during screening of healthy populations. Additional diagnostic tests are warranted if one of the following signs, such as a thin transparent skin, hyperelastic skin, large hematomas, prominent scars, molluscoid tumors, striae distensae, blue sclerae, elevated palate, and Gorlin's sign, is encountered in a child. Although it is not possible to extrapolate the data, we expect that the findings are relevant for children of Caucasian race.