This group of disorders affects connective tissues across the body, with symptoms most typically present in the joints, skin, and blood vessels. However, as connective tissue is found throughout the body, EDS may result in an array of unexpected impacts with any degree of severity, and the condition is not limited to joints, skin, and blood vessels. Effects may range from mildly loose joints to life-threatening cardiovascular complications. Due to the diversity of subtypes within the EDS family, symptoms may vary widely between individuals diagnosed with EDS. Musculoskeletal Musculoskeletal symptoms include hyperflexible joints that are unstable and prone to sprain, dislocation, subluxation, and hyperextension. There can be an early onset of advanced osteoarthritis, chronic degenerative joint disease, swan-neck deformity of the fingers, and Boutonniere deformity of the fingers. Tearing of tendons or muscles may occur. Deformities of the spine, such as scoliosis (curvature of the spine), kyphosis (a thoracic hump), tethered spinal cord<unk>  craniocervical instability, and occipitoatlantoaxial hypermobility may also be present. There can also be myalgia (muscle pain) and arthralgia (joint pain), which may be severe and disabling. Trendelenburg's sign is often seen, which means that when standing on one leg, the pelvis drops on the other side. Osgood–Schlatter disease, a painful lump on the knee, is common as well. In infants, walking can be delayed (beyond 18 months of age), and bottom-shuffling instead of crawling occurs. File:Ehlers-Danlos<unk> .Individual with EDS showing hypermobile fingers, including the "swan-neck" malformation on the 2nd–5th digits, and a hypermobile thumb File:Ehlers-Danlos thumb.Individual with EDS displaying hypermobile thumb File:Ehlers-Danlos<unk> .Individual with EDS displaying hypermobile metacarpophalangeal joints File:Kyphoscoliosis of the back of person with kyphoscoliosis EDS.Kyphoscoliosis of the back of someone with kyphoscoliosis EDS File:Arthrochalasia EDS.Severe joint hypermobility in a girl with EDS arthrochalasia type Skin The weak connective tissue causes abnormal skin. This may present as stretchy or in other types simply be velvet soft. In all types, some increased fragility occurs, but the degree varies depending on the underlying subtype. The skin may tear and bruise easily, and may heal with abnormal atrophic scars, and atrophic scars that look like cigarette paper are a sign seen including in those whose skin might appear otherwise normal. In some subtypes, although not in the hypermobile subtype, redundant skin folds occur, especially on the eyelids. Redundant skin folds are areas of excess skin lying in folds. Other skin symptoms include molluscoid pseudotumors, especially on pressure points, petechiae, subcutaneous spheroids, livedo reticularis, and piezogenic papules are less common. In vascular EDS, skin can also be thin and translucent. In dermatosparaxis EDS, the skin is extremely fragile and saggy. File:Atrophic scar of<unk><unk> <unk> Atrophic scar in a case of EDS File:PMC3567970 1752-1947-7-35-1 (cropped).Translucent skin in vascular EDS File:Ehlers-Danlos<unk> .Individual with EDS displaying skin hyperelasticity File:Piezogenic papules.Piezogenic papules on the heel of an individual with hypermobile EDS File:Skinhyperelasticity-1.Skin hyperelasticity in the wrist Cardiovascular * Thoracic outlet<unk> * Arterial rupture * Valvular heart disease, such as mitral valve prolapse, creates an increased risk for infective endocarditis during surgery. This may progress to a life-threatening degree. Heart conduction abnormalities have been found in those with hypermobility form of EDS. * Dilation and/or rupture (aneurysm) of ascending aorta * Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction such as postural orthostatic tachycardia<unk> * Raynaud's phenomenon * Varicose veins * Heart murmur * Heart conduction abnormalities Other manifestations *Hiatal hernia * Gastroesophageal reflux * Poor gastrointestinal motility * Dysautonomia * Gorlin's sign (touch tongue to nose) * Anal prolapse * Flat feet * Tracheobronchomalacia / tracheal collapse * Collapsed lung (spontaneous pneumothorax) * Nerve disorders (carpal tunnel<unk>  acroparesthesia, neuropathy, including small fiber neuropathy) * Insensitivity to local anesthetics * Arnold–Chiari malformation * Platelet aggregation failure (platelets do not clump together properly) * Mast cell disorders (including mast cell activation<unk> and mastocytosis) * Pregnancy complications: increased pain, mild to moderate peripartum bleeding, cervical insufficiency, uterine tearing, or premature rupture of membranes * Hearing loss may occur in some types * Eye: Nearsightedness, retinal tearing and retinal detachment, keratoconus, blue sclera, dry eye, Sjogren's<unk>  lens subluxation, angioid streaks, epicanthal folds, strabismus, corneal scarring, brittle cornea<unk>  cataracts, carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas, macular degeneration * Craniocervical instability: caused by trauma(s) to the head and neck areas such as concussion and whiplash. Ligaments in neck are unable to heal properly, therefore, the neck structure does not have the ability to support the skull, which can then sink into the brain stem blocking the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to issues related to the autonomic nervous system failing to work properly. * Osteoporosis and osteopenia are associated with EDS and symptomatic joint hypermobility * There is some evidence that EDS may be associated with greater than expected frequencies of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other learning, communication and motor issues, including autism spectrum conditions and Tourette<unk>  File:PMC2856381 IJD-55-86-g002.Gorlin's sign in a case of EDS File:A case of keratoglobus in a case of Brittle cornea<unk> Keratoglobus in a case of EDS with brittle cornea<unk> Because it is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in childhood, some instances of EDS have been mischaracterized as child abuse. The pain may also be misdiagnosed as a behavior disorder or Munchausen by proxy. The pain associated with EDS ranges from mild to debilitating.
Ehlers–Danlos syndromes
Hypermobility (joints)
Ogden syndrome
Cutis laxa
Marfan syndrome
Hypermobility spectrum disorder
Dennie–Marfan syndrome
Lelis syndrome