Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a condition that affects the connective tissues in your body.

Connective tissues support your organs and hold parts of your body in place. They’re made of two proteins: collagen and elastin. EDS affects your body’s ability to produce collagen the way it should. People with EDS have weaker collagen. This means their connective tissue isn’t as strong or supportive as it should be.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can affect any connective tissue in your body, including your:

• Cartilage.
• Bones.
• Blood.
• Fat.

Depending on where EDS affects your connective tissue, you might experience symptoms in your:

• Skin.
• Joints.
• Muscles.
• Blood vessels.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a genetic disorder. Talk to a healthcare provider about testing for EDS if someone in your biological family has it (an immediate relative like a biological parent, grandparent or sibling).

Types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Healthcare providers classify Ehlers-Danlos syndrome into 13 types based on where it affects you and the symptoms it causes.

The most common types cause symptoms like loose or unstable joints and fragile skin that tears easily. Some rare types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can cause fatal complications — especially vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS that affects your blood vessels).

Your provider will tell you which type of EDS you have and which treatments you’ll need to manage your symptoms.

How common is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?

Experts estimate that 1 in 5,000 people has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.