@article {van der Giessen2726, author = {L J van der Giessen and D Liekens and K J Rutgers and A Hartman and P G Mulder and A P Oranje}, title = {Validation of beighton score and prevalence of connective tissue signs in 773 Dutch children.}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {2726--2730}, year = {2001}, publisher = {The Journal of Rheumatology}, abstract = {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{\textquoteright}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{\textquoteright}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.}, issn = {0315-162X}, URL = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/28/12/2726}, eprint = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/28/12/2726.full.pdf}, journal = {The Journal of Rheumatology} }