Margarida Maia, PhD, science writer —

Most people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) carry genetic variations that affect the amount of folate available in their blood, according to a study. These findings support earlier work suggesting changes in how the body processes folate, also known as vitamin B9, may…

A man with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) had a ruptured splenic artery, a blood vessel that supplies the spleen, days after surgery for a perforated bowel, leading researchers in Japan to call for careful monitoring after surgery. “Surgeons should cooperate with physicians and interventional radiologists to perform surgery in…

Most people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) have signs of functional neurological disorder, where there’s a problem with the functioning of the nervous system rather than a structural issue, a study has found. Recognizing those signs could help guide appropriate care for hEDS/HSD patients…

The idea that plastic surgery is risky for people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is being challenged in a report of four women with the disorder who underwent successful breast lifting or reduction without added complications. “A diagnosis of hEDS is not a contraindication to surgery and acceptable…

Teens with unusually flexible joints, like in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS), are more than twice as likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than those without them, a large study of more than 1.6 million Israeli adolescents indicates. Knowing the odds of having IBS — a condition that affects…

Many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) report experiencing throat problems such as acid reflux, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and dysphonia (a hoarse voice), a survey study found. People with hypermobile EDS (hEDS), the most common type of the disease, experienced more severe acid reflux and dysphagia than those with…

A man with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) had life-saving emergency surgery to repair a tear in his bowel caused by segmental absence of intestinal musculature (SAIM), a condition where a part of the bowel wall’s muscle is missing. Both vEDS and SAIM can lead to fragile tissues that can…

Some people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) may experience symptoms affecting the larynx (voice box), according to a report of nine patients in the U.S., including six who were singers. “Recent years have seen an increase in reports on the laryngeal manifestations of Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome,” researchers wrote. “Here, we attempt…

A woman with kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a rare disease form that causes an abnormally curved spine, went misdiagnosed with Larsen syndrome, which can also cause the spine to curve, for more than 40 years, according to a report. This case in the U.S. highlights the value of genetic testing…

Sometimes, it may be best to not do surgery on an aneurysm — a bulge in a weakened area of a blood vessel — and avoid the risks that come with operating on the fragile tissues of people with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS). That’s according to experience gained in…