News

Mutations linked to vascular EDS alter ECM properties: Study

Mutations that cause vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) result in less collagen production and altered properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the molecular scaffold that supports cells and gives shape to tissues, a study shows. Because altered ECM properties seemed to be associated with more severe disease, they may serve…

Compression garments may improve balance in hypermobile EDS

Wearing compression garments — tight-fitting, elastic clothing items — and doing physiotherapy may help people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) improve balance and proprioception, a small study has found. Proprioception refers to a person’s perception of the location and movement of their body. The study, “Effects of compression…

Breathing issues in hEDS patients linked to poorer mental health

Most adults with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) report notable changes in breathing patterns, called functional respiratory complaints, according to a population survey. The survey included the Nijmegen questionnaire (NQ), which assessed these breathing-related symptoms, including chest pain, dizzy spells, shortness of breath, faster or deeper breathing, and chest…

Genetic test with IVF may help vEDS women have children: Report

A pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), used for identifying genetic abnormalities in embryos during in vitro fertilization (IVF), may help women with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) who want children, a recent case report shows. A woman with vEDS successfully used PGD to have two biological children via surrogacy. Neither were…

Vascular EDS found in 2 adults treated for serious eye problems

Two cases of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) were diagnosed during the treatment of severe eye-related problems and later found to be vEDS-associated complications, according to a recent report from Romania. While these complications were considered life-threatening for the young adults, prompt identification of their underlying cause enabled both patients…

Mutations that impair folate processing may be cause of hEDS

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) may be caused by genetic mutations that impair the body’s ability to process folate, the natural form of vitamin B9. That’s the idea put forward by scientists at Tulane University, in the paper “Folate-dependent hypermobility syndrome: A proposed mechanism and diagnosis,” which…