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Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of disorders that affect connective tissues, which are tissues that support the skin, bones, blood vessels, and other organs. Defects in connective tissues cause the signs and symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which vary from mildly loose joints to life-threatening complications.
In the past, there were more than 10 recognized types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. In 1997, researchers proposed a simpler classification that reduced the number of major types to six and gave them descriptive names: the arthrochalasia type, the classic type, the dermatosparaxis type, the hypermobility type, the kyphoscoliosis type, and the vascular type. Other forms of the condition may exist, but they have been reported only in single families or are not well characterized.
Although all types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome affect the joints and many also affect the skin, features vary by type. An unusually large range of joint movement (hypermobility) occurs with most forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, particularly the hypermobility type. Infants with hypermobile joints often appear to have weak muscle tone, which can delay the development of motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking. The loose joints are unstable and prone to dislocation, chronic pain, and early-onset arthritis. Dislocations involving both hips are a characteristic finding in infants with the arthrochalasia type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have soft, velvety skin that is highly elastic (stretchy) and fragile. Affected individuals tend to bruise easily, and some types of the condition also cause abnormal scarring. People with the classic form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome experience wounds that split open with little bleeding and leave scars that widen over time to create characteristic shallow "cigarette paper" scars. The dermatosparaxis type of the disorder is characterized by skin that sags and wrinkles. Extra (redundant) folds of skin may be present as affected children get older.
Some forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, notably the vascular and kyphoscoliosis types, can involve serious and potentially life-threatening complications. Blood vessels can tear (rupture) unpredictably, causing internal bleeding, stroke, and shock. The vascular type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is also associated with an increased risk of organ rupture, including tearing of the intestine and rupture of the uterus (womb) during pregnancy. People with the kyphoscoliosis form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome experience severe, progressive curvature of the spine that can interfere with breathing.
Although it is difficult to estimate the overall frequency of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, the combined prevalence of all types of this condition may be about 1 in 5,000 individuals worldwide. The hypermobility and classic forms are most common; the hypermobility type may affect as many as 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 people, while the classic type probably occurs in 1 in 20,000 to 40,000 people.
Other forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are very rare. About 30 cases of the arthrochalasia type and fewer than 60 cases of the kyphoscoliosis type have been reported worldwide. About a dozen infants and children with the dermatosparaxis type have been described. The vascular type is also rare; estimates vary widely, but the condition may affect about 1 in 250,000 people.
Mutations in the ADAMTS2, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, PLOD1, and TNXB genes cause Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Some of these genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, and COL5A2) provide instructions for making proteins that are used to assemble different types of collagen. Collagens are molecules that give structure and strength to connective tissues throughout the body. Other genes (ADAMTS2, PLOD1, and TNXB) provide instructions for making proteins that process or interact with collagen. Mutations that cause the different forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome disrupt the structure, production, or processing of collagen, preventing these molecules from being assembled properly. These defects weaken connective tissues in the skin, bones, and other parts of the body, resulting in the characteristic features of this condition.
The inheritance pattern of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome varies by type. The arthrochalasia, classic, hypermobility, and vascular forms of the disorder usually have an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Autosomal dominant inheritance means that one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. In some cases, an affected person inherits the mutation from one affected parent. Other cases result from new (sporadic) gene mutations. These cases occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.
The dermatosparaxis and kyphoscoliosis types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and some cases of the classic and hypermobility forms, are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. In autosomal recessive inheritance, two copies of the gene in each cell are altered. Most often, the parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder are carriers of one copy of the altered gene but do not show signs and symptoms of the disorder.
'''Ehlers-Danlos syndrome''' is a group of rare genetic disorder that diminish the body's ability to make connective tissues. It is caused by the inability of the body to synthesize different collagen types or a defect in synthesis. Depending on the individual mutation, the severity of the disease can vary from extremely mild to life-threatening. Typical symptoms are unstable, flexible joints including double-jointedness and tendency to dislocate, and elastic, fragile, soft skin that easily forms welts and scars. Other symptoms can include eye problems and nearsightedness. Bone deformations such as pectus excavatum (sunken chest) from extra-rapid bone growth may present early. Six different variants of the disease are known. EDS type 3 is the most common variant, and is caused by the autosomal dominant mechanism. EDS type 4 is also an autosomal dominant defect in the type 3 collagen synthesis. EDS type 6 is an autosomal recessive defect due to deficiency of an enzyme called lysyl hydroxylase. Among the more serious symptoms can be mitral valve prolapse, which creates an increased risk for surgery and anaesthesia, as well as itself possibly leading to further, dangerous complications. It may be linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis. Other symptoms or complications can include fragile skin, bruising easily, early onset osteoarthritis (often severe), increased likelihood of organ membranes or arterial membranes rupturing, gum disease, and a long and varied list of things that degrade quality of life or threaten life. There is no known cure.
Survey for Connective Tissue Disorders - Please help us by taking these surveys and explain your experiences with Connective Tissue Disorders like: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Marfan's Syndrome, Stickler Involved Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia.
Hypermobility and Fibromyalgia - Information about joint hypermobility (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Hypermobility Forum - This is a moderated discussion board for Hypermobility Syndrome, Marfan, and Ehlers-Danlos. Includes personal experiences, traditional and alternative treatment, and pain.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Support Group - This site offers extensive information for patients and doctors, plus links.
Ehlers Danlos Foundation of New Zealand - Support for sufferers of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and related Hypermobility Syndrome and provides some information for the medical profession and general public.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Information - A series of short articles regarding genetics, diagnosis, treatment, and coping for people with EDS from the University of Washington's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department.
NORD: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Information about EDS from the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Philadelphia Chapter - Local Philadelphia, PA support for EDS and connective tissue disorders, also offers a Service Guide for Invisible/Hidden Disabilities.
The Hypermobility Syndrome Association - HMSA serves people with Hypermobility Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos, and related joint disorders with information, referrals, message boards, and much more.
Arthritis Foundation Disease Center: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the condition.