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Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Genetics Birth Defects

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited disorders that weaken connective tissues, often affecting the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls.

Overview

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited disorders that weaken connective tissues. Connective tissues are proteins that support skin, bones, blood vessels, and other organs.

Symptoms

EDS usually affects your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Symptoms include:

  • Loose joints
  • Fragile, small blood vessels
  • Abnormal scar formation and wound healing
  • Soft, velvety, stretchy skin that bruises easily

Treatment & Management

There are several types of EDS. They can range from mild to life-threatening. About 1 in 5,000 people has EDS. There is no cure. Treatment involves managing symptoms, often with medicines and physical therapy. It also includes learning how to protect your joints and prevent injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

While many people have naturally flexible joints, EDS-related hypermobility is often accompanied by other specific signs such as chronic joint pain, frequent dislocations or subluxations, and skin that bruises easily or heals with abnormal scarring. A clinician typically uses the Beighton score, a standardized test that measures the range of motion in specific joints, to objectively assess if the flexibility exceeds normal limits and aligns with EDS criteria.
lthough EDS is primarily an inherited condition caused by mutations in genes responsible for collagen production, it is possible for a person to have EDS without a known family history. This can occur if the mutation is de novo, meaning it arises spontaneously in the individual, or if the condition is underdiagnosed in previous generations due to its variable severity and lack of specific genetic testing in the past. Genetic counseling can help clarify the inheritance pattern and risk for future generations.
Protecting joints requires avoiding high-impact activities that place excessive stress on ligaments, such as contact sports or heavy weightlifting without proper form. Instead, low-impact exercises like swimming, yoga, or stationary cycling are recommended to maintain muscle strength, which acts as a natural brace for unstable joints. Additionally, using supportive braces during physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce the mechanical load on vulnerable connective tissues.
Vascular EDS is the most severe type and requires immediate medical attention if a patient experiences sudden, severe, and unexplained pain in the abdomen, chest, or limbs, which may signal a rupture of a blood vessel or organ. Other critical warning signs include sudden shortness of breath, fainting, or a significant drop in blood pressure. Because these events can be life-threatening, patients with this subtype are often advised to carry a medical alert card and seek emergency care immediately upon experiencing these acute symptoms.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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