About The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (adults)

The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTDs) characterised by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility (Malfait et al. 2017). At this point, the genetic cause for Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos remains elusive. For that reason, among others, the criteria for diagnosing Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome were made more specific in 2017. The International Consortium on the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes released a new nosology for all types of EDS, recognising 13 subtypes of EDS (where previously we had been working with six types). During this process, the name for each type was modified slightly. EDS Hypermobility Type (which used to be known as EDS III, before it became EDS Hypermobility Type) has become Hypermobile EDS and shorted to hEDS. A “clinical spectrum” of hypermobility has now also been identified and documented, and this ranges from Asymptomatic Joint Hypermobility through Generalised Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, to Hypermobile EDS. See our page on “Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders” for more information. 

The Beighton Scale

Specifically for the purpose of diagnosing hEDS, the following cut-offs are recommended on the Beighton Score to ascertain whether someone has generalised joint hypermobility (GJH):

≥6 for pre-pubertal children and adolescents

≥5 for pubertal men and women up to the age of 50

≥4 for those >50 years of age

The Five-Point Questionnaire. Adapted From [Grahame and Hakim, 2003]

There is recognition that people with acquired joint limitations, e.g. from surgery, wheelchair use, amputation, etc., may not score accurately on the Beighton Scale. If the individual is 1 point under the cut-off for their age/life stage, The Five-Point Questionnaire below can be used to help diagnose/score GJH.

1. Can you now (or could you ever) place your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees?

2. Can you now (or could you ever) bend your thumb to touch your forearm?

3. As a child, did you amuse your friends by contorting your body into strange shapes or could you do the splits?

4. As a child or teenager, did your shoulder or kneecap dislocate on more than one occasion?

5. Do you consider yourself “double-jointed”?

A “yes” answer to two or more questions suggests joint hypermobility with 80–85% sensitivity and 80–90% specificity.

Diagnosis of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

A diagnosis of hEDS should be assigned only in those who meet ALL of the criteria below. It’s important to be strict with assessment of criterion in order to help reduce heterogeneity within the diagnostic category, and to help future efforts to discover underlying genetic causes for the condition (Malfait et al. 2017).

A diagnosis of hEDS requires the patients’ symptoms meet Criteria 1 AND Criteria 2 AND Criteria 3.

  • As diagnosed using the Beighton Score (+/- The Five-Point Questionnaire)

  • (e.g. A + B; A + C; B + C;  A + B + C)

    Feature A: (A total of 5 must be present)

    • Unusually soft or velvety skin

    • Mild skin hyperextensibility

    • Unexplained striae such as striae distensae or rubrae at the back, groins, thighs, breasts and/or abdomen in adolescents, men or prepubertal women without a history of significant gain or loss of body fat or weight

    • Bilateral piezogenic papules of the heel

    • Recurrent or multiple abdominal hernia(s) (e.g., umbilical, inguinal, crural)

    • Atrophic scarring involving at least two sites and without the formation of truly papyraceous and/or hemosideric scars as seen in classical EDS

    • Pelvic floor, rectal, and/or uterine prolapse in children, men or nulliparous women without a history of morbid obesity or other known pre-disposing medical condition

    • Dental crowding and high or narrow palate

    • Arachnodactyly, as defined in one or more of the following: (i) positive wrist sign (Steinberg sign) on both sides; (ii) positive thumb sign (Walker sign) on both sides

    • Arm span-to-height ≥1.05

    • Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) mild or greater based on strict echocardiographic criteria

    • Aortic root dilatation with Z-score > +2

    Feature B:

    Positive Family History with one or more first-degree relatives independently meeting the current diagnostic criteria for hEDS.

    Feature C: Musculoskeletal complications (must have at least one)

    • Musculoskeletal pain in two or more limbs, recurring daily for at least 3 months

    • Chronic, widespread pain for ≥3 months

    • Recurrent joint dislocations or frank joint instability, in the absence of trauma (a or b)

    (a)Three or more atraumatic dislocations in the same joint or two or more atraumatic dislocations in two different joints occurring at different times

    (b)Medical confirmation of joint instability at two or more sites not related to trauma

    • Absence of unusual skin fragility, which should prompt consideration of other types of EDS

    • Exclusion of other heritable and acquired connective tissue disorders, including autoimmune rheumatologic conditions. In patients with an acquired connective tissue disorder (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)  additional diagnosis of hEDS requires meeting both Features A and B of Criterion 2. Feature C of Criterion 2 (chronic pain and/or instability) cannot be counted towards a diagnosis of hEDS in this situation.

    • Exclusion of alternative diagnoses that may also include joint hypermobility by means of hypotonia and/or connective tissue laxity. Alternative diagnoses and diagnostic categories include, but are not limited to, neuromuscular disorders (e.g. myopathic EDS, Bethlem myopathy), other HCTD (e.g. other types of EDS, Loeys–Dietz syndrome, Marfan syndrome), and skeletal dysplasias (e.g. OI). Exclusion of these considerations may be based upon history, physical examination, and/or molecular genetic testing, as indicated. More explanatory notes are available in the original article by Malfait et al. (2017), which can be found below.

  • A number of other symptoms & syndromes have been found to be associated with hEDS. While these are not included in the diagnostic criteria, the presence of co-morbidities is not uncommon.These can include:

    • Sleep disturbance

    • Fatigue

    • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

    • Functional Gastrointestinal disorders

    • Dysautonomia

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

What it looks like

Hypermobile EDS is a pervasive condition. The criterion in the diagnostic nosology above cover the following body areas or systems:

    • Joint hypermobility

    • Joint pain

    • Joint instability/dislocations

    • High palate

    • Crowding of teeth

    • Hyperextensibility

    • Scarring

    • Abnormal stretch marks

    • Mitral Valve Prolapse

    • Aortic Root Dilation

    • Hernias

    • Prolapses

    • Sleep

    • Fatigue

    • Mood

    • Gastrointestinal

    • Autonomic System Dysfunction

Presentation

Patients with hEDS present in a myriad of ways. There is so much diversity within the hEDS diagnostic criteria, meaning no two people living with Hypermobile EDS will present the same way.

The most common reason for someone to present for diagnosis in this hEDS sub-type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is joint hypermobility, joint instability and chronic pain. They also often experience debilitating fatigue.

A person living with significant joint hypermobility, pain and fatigue will often be struggling with their life roles (e.g. parenting, working, schooling) as well as many of the tasks within these roles (e.g. cooking, cleaning, studying, driving, looking after children).

Some will have made helpful adaptations (e.g., found ways around difficult tasks), others will have found unhealthy ones (e.g., avoiding leaving the house), and others may not have made any changes. If the person has been experiencing symptoms for some time, they will often present using aids, braces, or splints and may or may not be taking considerable doses of pain medication. Most of these things are necessary in the life of a person severely affected by hEDS, especially when they haven’t been managed well (or at all). More often than not, they will not have had access to specialist services for hEDS.

There are no adult genetic specialist services in Australia for the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes. Many genetics clinics around the country are turning away referrals for diagnosis of hEDS or HSD. Many will only see patients suspected of another type of EDS or Connective Tissue Disorder.

There is a scattering of private practice health professionals who are knowledgeable enough to be able to work with patients with these conditions. Typically, what they have learned in this area of practice is from treating patients with hypermobility through trial and error.

The serious lack of resources is why we desperately need to educate medical & health professionals about Hypermobile EDS and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders. Specifically, how to diagnose (for medical practitioners) and how to help someone living with hypermobility learn to manage their condition (allied health).

At the moment, patients are generally learning how to do this from each other, within patient forums and Facebook groups, which means their management plans are not tailored to their individual needs and, more often than not, are not appropriate for the individual. Patients are not getting the best healthcare possible because of a lack of health professional education in the area of hypermobility conditions.

References

Information compiled by: Michelle O’Sullivan BAppSc(OT) Grad Cert Loss, Grief & Trauma Counselling based on:

  1. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) vs. Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD): What’s the Difference? Downloaded 14/12/2017: https://ehlers-danlos.com/wp-content/uploads/hEDSvHSD.pdf

  2. Malfait F, Francomano C, Byers P, Belmont J, Berglund B, Black J, Bloom L, Bowen JM, Brady AF, Burrows NP, Castori M, Cohen H, Colombi M, Demirdas S, De Backer J, De Paepe A, Fournel-Gigleux S, Frank M, Ghali N, Giunta C, Grahame R, Hakim A, Jeunemaitre X, Johnson D, Juul-Kristensen B, Kapferer-Seebacher I, Kazkaz H, Kosho T, Lavallee ME, Levy H, Mendoza-Londono R, Pepin M, Pope FM, Reinstein E, Robert L, Rohrbach M, Sanders L, Sobey GJ, Van Damme T, Vandersteen A, van Mourik C, Voermans N, Wheeldon N, Zschocke J, Tinkle B. 2017. The 2017 international classification of the Ehlers–Danlos syndromes. Am J Med Genet Part C Semin Med Genet 175C:8–26.