BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEhlers-Danlos syndromeEhlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited disorders marked by extremely loose joints, very stretchy (hyperelastic) skin that bruises easily, and easily damaged blood vessels.HyperelasticHyperelastic skin is skin that can be stretched beyond what is considered normal. The skin returns to normal after it is stretched.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes There are at least 13 types of EDS.A variety of gene changes (mutations) cause problems with collagen. This is the material that provides strength and structure to:Skin Bone Blood vessels Internal organsThe abnormal collagen leads to the symptoms associated with EDS. In some forms of the syndrome, the rupture of internal organs or abnormal heart valves can occur.Family history is a risk factor in some cases. Symptoms Symptoms of EDS vary by type and may include:Back pain Double-jointedness Easily damaged, bruised, and stretchy skin Easy scarring and poor wound healing Flat feet Increased joint mobility, joints popping, early arthritis Joint dislocation Joint dislocationA dislocation is a separation of two ends of the bones where they meet at a joint. A joint is the place where two bones connect, which allows moveme...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Joint pain Premature rupture of membranes during pregnancy Very soft and velvety skin Vision problems Exams and Tests Examination by a health care provider may show:Deformed surface of the eye (cornea) Excess joint looseness and joint hypermobility Joint hypermobilityHypermobile joints are joints that move beyond the normal range with little effort. Joints most commonly affected are the elbows, wrists, fingers, a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Mitral valve in the heart does not close tightly (mitral valve prolapse) Mitral valve prolapseMitral valve prolapse is a heart problem involving the mitral valve, which separates the upper and lower chambers of the left side of the heart. In ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gum infection (periodontitis) PeriodontitisPeriodontitis is inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rupture of intestines, uterus, or eyeball (seen only in vascular EDS, which is rare) Soft, thin, or very stretchy skin Tests to diagnose EDS include:Collagen typing (performed on a skin biopsy sample) Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Collagen gene mutation testing Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lysyl hydroxylase or oxidase activity (to check collagen formation) Treatment There is no specific cure for EDS. Individual problems and symptoms are evaluated and cared for appropriately. Physical therapy or evaluation by a doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine is often needed. Support Groups More information and support for people with Ehlers-Danlos and their families can be found at:The Ehlers-Danlos Society -- www.ehlers-danlos.com/support/ Outlook (Prognosis) People with EDS generally have a normal life span. Intelligence is normal.Those with the rare vascular type of EDS are at greater risk for rupture of a major organ or blood vessel. These people have a high risk for sudden death. Possible Complications Possible complications of EDS include:Chronic joint pain Early-onset arthritis Failure of surgical wounds to close (or stitches tear out) Premature rupture of membranes during pregnancy Rupture of major vessels, including a ruptured aortic aneurysm (only in vascular EDS) Ruptured aortic aneurysmThe aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when an area of t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rupture of a hollow organ such as the uterus or bowel (only in vascular EDS) Rupture of the eyeball (only in vascular EDS) When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider for an appointment if you have a family history of EDS and you are concerned about your risk or are planning to start a family.Contact your provider for an appointment if you or your child has symptoms of EDS. Prevention Genetic counseling is recommended for prospective parents with a family history of EDS. Those planning to start a family should be aware of the type of EDS they have and how it is passed down to children. This can be determined through testing and evaluations suggested by your provider or genetic counselor.Genetic counselingGenetics is the study of heredity, the process of a parent passing certain genes on to their children. A person's appearance, such as height, hair co...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Identifying any significant health risks may help prevent severe complications by vigilant screening and lifestyle alterations.Open ReferencesReferencesKrakow D. Heritable diseases of connective tissue. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelly's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 111.Pyeritz RE. Inherited diseases of connective tissue. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 244.AllVideoImagesTogEhlers-Danlos, hyperelasticity of the skin - illustration This picture shows the unusually elastic skin (can be stretched much further than normal skin) of a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a condition that affects connective tissues. This condition also causes skin to be easily bruised, heal poorly, form cigarette paper scars, and joints that are unusually flexible (hyperflexible, hypermobile).Ehlers-Danlos, hyperelasticity of the skinillustrationEhlers-Danlos, hyperelasticity of the skin - illustration This picture shows the unusually elastic skin (can be stretched much further than normal skin) of a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a condition that affects connective tissues. This condition also causes skin to be easily bruised, heal poorly, form cigarette paper scars, and joints that are unusually flexible (hyperflexible, hypermobile).Ehlers-Danlos, hyperelasticity of the skinillustrationRelated Information Hyperelastic skin(Symptoms)Abdominal aortic aneurysm(Condition) Review Date: 12/4/2022 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. 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Ehlers-Danlos syndromeEhlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited disorders marked by extremely loose joints, very stretchy (hyperelastic) skin that bruises easily, and easily damaged blood vessels.HyperelasticHyperelastic skin is skin that can be stretched beyond what is considered normal. The skin returns to normal after it is stretched.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes There are at least 13 types of EDS.A variety of gene changes (mutations) cause problems with collagen. This is the material that provides strength and structure to:Skin Bone Blood vessels Internal organsThe abnormal collagen leads to the symptoms associated with EDS. In some forms of the syndrome, the rupture of internal organs or abnormal heart valves can occur.Family history is a risk factor in some cases. Symptoms Symptoms of EDS vary by type and may include:Back pain Double-jointedness Easily damaged, bruised, and stretchy skin Easy scarring and poor wound healing Flat feet Increased joint mobility, joints popping, early arthritis Joint dislocation Joint dislocationA dislocation is a separation of two ends of the bones where they meet at a joint. A joint is the place where two bones connect, which allows moveme...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Joint pain Premature rupture of membranes during pregnancy Very soft and velvety skin Vision problems Exams and Tests Examination by a health care provider may show:Deformed surface of the eye (cornea) Excess joint looseness and joint hypermobility Joint hypermobilityHypermobile joints are joints that move beyond the normal range with little effort. Joints most commonly affected are the elbows, wrists, fingers, a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Mitral valve in the heart does not close tightly (mitral valve prolapse) Mitral valve prolapseMitral valve prolapse is a heart problem involving the mitral valve, which separates the upper and lower chambers of the left side of the heart. In ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gum infection (periodontitis) PeriodontitisPeriodontitis is inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rupture of intestines, uterus, or eyeball (seen only in vascular EDS, which is rare) Soft, thin, or very stretchy skin Tests to diagnose EDS include:Collagen typing (performed on a skin biopsy sample) Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Collagen gene mutation testing Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lysyl hydroxylase or oxidase activity (to check collagen formation) Treatment There is no specific cure for EDS. Individual problems and symptoms are evaluated and cared for appropriately. Physical therapy or evaluation by a doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine is often needed. Support Groups More information and support for people with Ehlers-Danlos and their families can be found at:The Ehlers-Danlos Society -- www.ehlers-danlos.com/support/ Outlook (Prognosis) People with EDS generally have a normal life span. Intelligence is normal.Those with the rare vascular type of EDS are at greater risk for rupture of a major organ or blood vessel. These people have a high risk for sudden death. Possible Complications Possible complications of EDS include:Chronic joint pain Early-onset arthritis Failure of surgical wounds to close (or stitches tear out) Premature rupture of membranes during pregnancy Rupture of major vessels, including a ruptured aortic aneurysm (only in vascular EDS) Ruptured aortic aneurysmThe aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when an area of t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rupture of a hollow organ such as the uterus or bowel (only in vascular EDS) Rupture of the eyeball (only in vascular EDS) When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider for an appointment if you have a family history of EDS and you are concerned about your risk or are planning to start a family.Contact your provider for an appointment if you or your child has symptoms of EDS. Prevention Genetic counseling is recommended for prospective parents with a family history of EDS. Those planning to start a family should be aware of the type of EDS they have and how it is passed down to children. This can be determined through testing and evaluations suggested by your provider or genetic counselor.Genetic counselingGenetics is the study of heredity, the process of a parent passing certain genes on to their children. A person's appearance, such as height, hair co...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Identifying any significant health risks may help prevent severe complications by vigilant screening and lifestyle alterations.Open ReferencesReferencesKrakow D. Heritable diseases of connective tissue. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelly's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 111.Pyeritz RE. Inherited diseases of connective tissue. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 244.