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Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Cause - Diagnosis - Symptoms - Treatment

Information on the cause, diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) a group of six genetic connective tissue disorders that affect the skin and joints. EDS is characterized by abnormalities in the chemical structure of the connective tissues, resulting in fragile skin, unstable and hypermobile joints and other problems.
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Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Ehlers-Danos syndrome is a group of inherited disorders characterized by excessive looseness of the joints, hyperelastic skin that is fragile and bruises easily, and/or easily damaged blood vessels and it sometimes involves rupture of internal organs. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) can occur in different forms, involving the vessels, skin and/or joints.

Hyperelastic skin (India rubber skin)
Hyperelastic skin can be readily stretched beyond the limits of normal skin and will return to its normal state. Hyperelastic skin is most often seen in the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. People with this disorder are sometimes referred to as rubber men (or women) because of the increased elasticity of their skin and hyperextensible joints.

Ehlers-Danlos, hyperelasticity of the skin (Image)
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).

Hypermobile joints
Hypermobile joints are joints that move beyond their normal range with little effort. The most common joints where this occurs are the elbows, wrists, fingers, and knees.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Symptoms Due To Collagen Disorder
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of disorders, including six major types classified according to their specific symptoms. Typical symptoms include: skin extensibility, tissue fragility, and joint hypermobility. Other additional symptoms such as joint pain, skin scarring, hernias, or easy bruising, depends on which type of EDS is present.

Hypermobile joints (Image)
Hypermobile joints are joints that move beyond their normal range of motion with little effort from the individual.

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