Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

What Is Ehlers Danlos Syndrome?

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a disease of the connective tissue. At this syndrome is the connective tissue not good.
Bind or supporting tissue is everywhere in our body. It's in bones and in tires. The tires hold the joints in place. Connective tissue also ensures that the skin stuck to the underlying layer and that the teeth stay in place.

There are several types of Ehlers-Danlos. Some are more serious than others.
All types are hereditary, most types of dominant. But you can also get the disease first in the family. Then it is a spontaneous mutation.

Many people with this disease get physical therapy. The physical therapist gives exercises to your muscles as strong as possible. With strong muscles in charge you your joints less. Also a cesar therapist or mensendieck therapist can give you advice on good exercises.
You must protect your body always good. Contact sports (football, judo) and hard physical work you should not do.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is not so much for. About 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 people get this disease.

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Types

Not everyone with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have the same symptoms. There are six types, each type let other complaints. The symptoms vary from person seriously. However, most people with Ehlers-Danlos joint pain.

The three most common types are:

1. The classic type. People with this type have a very thin, stretchy skin. The skin is thus vulnerable. She feels velvety. People with this type have fast scars and bruises. The joints are mobile.
2. The hyper-mobility type. People with this type have movable joints. The joints therefore often fall out of the bowl. Also do joint pain.
3. The vascular type. This is the most severe type. People with vascular type have a thin translucent skin. The veins are very clear to see, especially on the feet and on the chest. The wall of the blood vessels is slack. The probability that such a blood vessel ruptures is much larger than normal. So there might be spontaneous hemorrhages occur in the intestines and arteries. That is perilous.

Then there are three more rare types: the kyphoscoliosis type (lateral curvature of the spine), the Arthrochalasia type (weak joints), and the Dermatosparaxis type (with too much skin). There are very few people with these three.

Is The Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Hereditary?

All types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are hereditary. That does not mean that you always pass it on to your child. The chance to this is there though.

The types of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are two ways inherited. The classic type, hyper-mobility type, vascular type and the type Arthrochalasia dominant hereditary.
The kyphoscoliosis type and Dermatosparaxis type recessive hereditary.

How do I know if I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is difficult to diagnose. The doctor first asks about your symptoms. Then a physical examination. The doctor looks at the hyperactivity and from any bruising, varicose veins or other external phenomena. It is also important to ascertain whether more of family members can have the same problems.

In older people with Ehlers-Danlos think doctors sometimes first from fibromyalgia (soft tissue rheumatism). Many people with Ehlers-Danlos have namely complaints that are also part of fibromyalgia.

Your doctor suspects that your symptoms come from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome? Then they will refer you to the Department of Clinical Genetics of the University Hospital. As the doctor says it again a comprehensive physical examination. It may be that the doctor removes a small piece of skin. She lets examine this piece of skin on an error in a specific gene. Only in hyper-mobility type is not yet known which gene has a mistake. Therefore, the examining physician in that case, the collagen (protein) in the piece of skin.