
What are the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes?
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The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are currently classified into thirteen sub-types. There is often symptom overlap between the EDS subtypes and the other connective tissue disorders including hypermobility spectrum disorders.
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What are the symptoms of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes?
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Joints
Joint hypermobility; loose/unstable joints which are prone to frequent dislocations and/or subluxations; joint pain; hyperextensible joints (they move beyond the joint’s normal range); early onset of osteoarthritis.
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Skin
Soft velvety-like skin; variable skin hyper-extensibility; fragile skin that tears or bruises easily (bruising may be severe); severe scarring; slow and poor wound healing; development of molluscoid pseudo tumors (fleshy lesions associated with scars over pressure areas).
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Miscellaneous/Less Common
Chronic, early onset, debilitating musculoskeletal pain (usually associated with the Hypermobility Type); arterial/intestinal/uterine fragility or rupture (usually associated with the Vascular Type); scoliosis at birth and scleral fragility (associated with the Kyphoscoliosis Type); poor muscle tone (associated with the Arthrochalasia Type); mitral valve prolapse; and gum disease.
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It is important to remember that each patient's symptoms and experience with the EDS is unique.