Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Symptoms and Causes (2024)

FAQs

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Symptoms and Causes? ›

Different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are associated with a variety of genetic causes, some of which are inherited and passed on from parent to child. If you have the most common form, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, there's a 50% chance that you'll pass on the gene to each of your children.

Different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are associated with a variety of genetic causes, some of which are inherited and passed on from parent to child. If you have the most common form, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, there's a 50% chance that you'll pass on the gene to each of your children.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Causes

EDS is a genetic disorder. That means it's something that can be passed on to you from your parents. If one of your parents has this condition, you're likely to have it, too. But some people who are diagnosed with EDS are the first in their family to get it.

The answer is that Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) can be a disabling condition, depending on how it presents. EDS is a genetic disorder affecting connective tissues and causing an array of serious physical problems, ranging from joint pain to cardiovascular issues.

Although some symptoms of EDS and lupus can be similar, there are distinctive features of EDS that can help provide an accurate diagnosis. Loose joints, delicate skin, and stretchy skin are important characteristics of EDS that help identify the condition.

As a type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), vascular EDs (vEDS) is typified by a number of characteristic facial features (eg, large eyes, small chin, sunken cheeks, thin nose and lips, lobeless ears).

Since Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome can be present at birth or shortly thereafter, it is not unusual for it to be diagnosed during a child's toddler years. This can be done by looking at their specific symptoms, family history, urine testing and skin biopsies. It can sometimes be helpful to perform a cardiac ultrasound.

Patients with vascular EDS have an average life expectancy of 48 years. About 80% of patients might have a critical event by the age of 40 years. The lifespan of a patient with kyphoscoliosis EDS is reduced due to two reasons: Involvement of the blood vessels.

Due to the collagen in the skin being extra stretchy, many EDS patients experience a lack of wrinkles as they age. This collagen may help EDS patients look younger and can also cause skin to feel extremely soft. Doctor's even describe the skin as “velvet-soft”.

For someone with both EDS and hypertension, reducing their intake of processed foods, which are often high in salt and unhealthy fats, would be crucial. They might also be advised to incorporate foods rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, such as bananas, leafy greens, and dairy or fortified alternatives.

Why are EDS patients called zebras? ›

"When you hear hoof beats behind you, don't expect to see a zebra." Medical students are given this quote as a way to let them know that they should look for a common diagnosis for the symptoms they are given instead of the possibility of it being a rare case. This is why people with EDS refer to themselves as Zebras.

EDS can cause a variety of dental anomalies, including enamel defects, high cusps and low fissures of the molars and premolars, shortened or abnormally shaped tooth roots, and early loss of gum tissue. If you have EDS, you have a much higher risk of cavities, tooth decay, gum recession, and tooth loss.

In the U.S., two million people live with rheumatoid arthritis, and another 1.5 million live with lupus. A much rarer group of connective tissue disorders is called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Unlike the diseases noted above, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is not an autoimmune condition, it's an inherited disorder.

skin that bruises easily. digestive problems, such as heartburn and constipation. dizziness and an increased heart rate after standing up. problems with internal organs, such as mitral valve problems or organ prolapse.

Children with EDS often show delay in crawling, walking and standing. They tend to be more floppy than usual. Some rare types of EDS can affect growth and cause early joint dislocations.

Flares could last for a day or months, but we see a return to baseline. I used to think flare-ups only happened after physical perceived over-exertion. But I now know and see how they can also happen with mental exertion, psychological stress, stressful live events, hormones, and even seasonal weather changes.

EDS is something you are born with but symptoms may not manifest themselves until later in life. It is not uncommon for a genetic condition to first become apparent during puberty, alternatively symptoms can be triggered by a trauma, such as a virus, many years down the line.

autosomal dominant inheritance (hypermobile, classical and vascular EDS) – the faulty gene that causes EDS is passed on by 1 parent and there's a 1 in 2 chance of each of their children developing the condition.

In general, people with this type have soft, smooth and velvety skin with easy bruising and chronic pain of the muscles and/or bones. Classical EDS is associated with extremely elastic (stretchy), smooth skin that is fragile and bruises easily; wide, atrophic scars (flat or depressed scars); and joint hypermobility.