Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Screening and monitoring of arteries — the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to other organs — in adults with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is common practice in Europe, despite a lack of clear guidelines, a study reports. In contrast, arterial monitoring in young children without symptoms should…

A genetic testing technique called next-generation sequencing (NGS) may help unveil unrecognized disease-causing mutations linked with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and related disorders, a Polish study suggests. The study, “Next-Generation Sequencing of Connective Tissue Genes in Patients with Classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome,” was published in Current Issues…

Acer Therapeutics expects to launch its pivotal Phase 3 DiSCOVER clinical trial — which will test Edsivo (celiprolol) in patients with COL3A1-positive vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) — by the end of June. The announcement follows an agreement between Acer and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…

The European Commission has granted an orphan drug designation to Aytu BioPharma’s AR101 (enzastaurin), an oral therapy candidate for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), including the severe subtype vascular EDS (vEDS). The commission’s decision follows a positive recommendation by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, an arm of the European…

A spontaneous tear in the colon of an adult at younger ages could indicate vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a case study reports. The case, “Total colectomy in Vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome a case report and literature review” was published in the journal Annals of Medicine and Surgery.

“A correct diagnosis of [classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or] cEDS is not always straightforward,” researchers in Belgium concluded in a new study, in which the scientists urged that anyone suspected of having this type of the rare connective tissue disorder undergo a complete clinical examination, followed by genetic testing. Such testing…

Scientists have identified a set of new genetic mutations as the likely cause of bone fractures during the embryonic development of a baby born to a woman with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). One of the mutations was found in the CCDC134 gene, which had been previously linked with bone fragility. These…

Ahead of this year’s Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill, held virtually July 14–22, the EveryLife Foundation will award grants to top advocates of rare disease organizations who participate in the week’s pre-events. The top 50 point-earners will be eligible to win $1,000 to $5,000in  grants, totaling up…

People with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) who undergo surgery to fix joint problems experience less pain when given opioid-free anesthesia and post-surgery pain management, a study reports. The study, “Opioid-free anesthesia for patients with joint hypermobility syndrome undergoing craneo-cervical fixation: a case-series study focused on anti-hyperalgesic approach,”…

More than half of the people with rare diseases and their caregivers, asked in a survey, were undecided or less than willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if a vaccine was approved under emergency use authorization instead of the routine process, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Disease reports. These findings…