Ehlers-Danlos symptoms

The Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation says that patients with EDS experience a variety of symptoms, with some overlap between the syndrome's types. How EDS presents is very individualized. The organization's patient education packet highlights these:

Joints: chronic pain, often with normal X-rays, loose and flexible joints that may pop out of place or dislocate and early-onset osteoarthritis

Skin: fragile skin that cuts or tears easily; poor wound healing; wide, stretched-out scars; "stretchy" skin; soft or velvety skin; and easy bruising.

Vascular: artery rupture, fragility or aneurysms; bowel, uterus or internal organ rupture; severe bruising, thin, translucent skin that shows blue veins, especially on the chest, belly and back; and may have certain facial features including large eyes, thin nose, thin lips, lobeless ears and small chin.

Other symptoms: bowel disorders such as irritable bowel or gastritis; low blood pressure; and fast heart rate (especially on standing); mitral valve prolapse; narrow palate or dental crowding; and early bone thinning and osteoporosis.