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We present data from an exploratory study of 174 adults with Marfan syndrome regarding their cognitive perceptions of the condition as postulated by the self-regulatory model (Leventhal H, Benyamini Y, Brownlee S et al. In: Petrie KI, Weinman JA, eds. Perceptions of Health and Illness: Current Research and Applications. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Harwood Academic, 1997: 19–45; Leventhal H, Nerenz DR, Steele DJ. In: Baum A, Taylor SE, Singer JE, eds. Handbook of Psychology and Health. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1984: 219–252). The vast majority of the respondents had adequate general knowledge about Marfan syndrome. Eighty-three percent of the respondents perceived Marfan syndrome as having had significant adverse consequences on their lives. Having striae, pain (sore joints), and depression were each independently correlated with this view. Fifty-eight percent of the respondents indicated that they felt they had low to moderate control over their condition, demonstrating variability. History of aortic dissection, pain (sore joints), and depressive symptoms were each negatively correlated with the view that Marfan syndrome is a curable/controllable condition. Moreover, approximately 28% view the condition as a lethal condition, whereas 67% view it as a serious condition. Forty-four percent of the cohort were found to have significant symptomatology of depression independent of beta- and Ca2+-channel blockade use. Respondents cited both advantages and disadvantages of being affected. Genetic counseling that addresses patients’ perceptions of Marfan syndrome, and its associated pain, fatigue, and depressive symptoms, may enhance patient adaptation to the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the perceptions of and adherence to medication and physical activity guidelines in 174 adults with Marfan syndrome. Over 80% of those prescribed beta- and Ca2+-channel blockade reportedly adhere well to their medication regimen. The presence of cardiovascular symptoms and fatigue were positively correlated with the medication use. Medication-takers reported that they are psychologically receptive to the use of medication for prophylactic treatment of their cardiovascular problems. However, all do not view their medication as essential for their health. Duration of the medication regimen, type of medication, and perception of controllability of the condition were each independently associated with respondents’ perceptions of the necessity of taking beta- or Ca2+-channel blockers. Over 80% of the respondents reported that they choose their physical activities with their diagnosis in mind. Modifying exercise activities was significantly correlated with an increased perception of Marfan syndrome as having negative consequences on the respondents’ lives. Genetic counseling should address beliefs about medication use and physical activity restrictions, as perceptions of these health behaviors may have significant impact on how adults with Marfan syndrome adhere to these recommendations and cope with their condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Alström syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by retinopathy and has life-threatening complications. Alström syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed or confused with other early childhood disorders with retinopathy.  Understanding the spectrum of ocular manifestations of Alström syndrome is essential for ophthalmologists to recognize the cause and institute-appropriate care for this disorder that requires multidisciplinary attention., Objective: To quantify and summarize the common ocular findings of Alström syndrome., Design: Case series, clinical exam data obtained from 2015 to 2023., Setting: Semiannual multidisciplinary Alström syndrome clinics (2015-2023) at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), organized by Alström Syndrome International (ASI)., Participants: Forty-eight patients (38 children, 10 adults) with a known diagnosis of Alström syndrome participated in the semiannual multidisciplinary Alström syndrome clinics. Patients apply to be seen and are accepted based on need and capacity., Intervention(s) or Exposure(s): Not applicable., Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): Clinical ocular findings., Results: Participants in this study had a median age of 8 years (15 months to 42 years). Visual acuity and progression of vision loss varied. The youngest patient who was legally blind was 2 years old. The oldest patient who maintained useful vision was 7 years old. All patients 8 years old or older were legally blind. Nystagmus (94%, 45 of 48) and photophobia (73%, 35 of 48) were the most common first presenting ocular symptoms in childhood. Retinal vascular attenuation (91%, 40 of 44) and retinal internal limiting membrane changes (68%, 30 of 44) were the most commonly documented retinal findings in both children and adults followed by optic nerve (ON) pallor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) mottling. Less than half of the children had ON pallor (38%, 14 of 37) and RPEmottling (38%, 14 of 37), while all adults had these two findings (100%, 7 of 7). Retinal pigment clumps were not common in children (11%, 4 of 37), while common in adults (86%, 6 of 7)., Conclusions and Relevance: Knowledge of these ocular findings is key to promptly recognize Alström syndrome. The ocular phenotype of Alström syndrome is largely dependent on age, suggesting that low vision interventions and potential gene-based therapeutics should target children with this disorder.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), a group of uncommon connective tissue disorders, are, paradoxically, an increasingly common referral to genetics specialists. Of the 13 types of EDS, the most common is hypermobile EDS (hEDS), which lacks a known genetic etiology and for which diagnosis is achieved via a robust set of clinical criteria. While previous investigations have characterized many clinical aspects of EDS as a syndrome and patients' lived experiences, a gap in the literature exists regarding clinicians' experience caring for these individuals. This study sought to understand the effects of hEDS patient referrals from genetic counselors' perspectives. To capture these novel views and values, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who were members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) and had experience working with the hEDS patient population. Interview questions explored the frequency of hEDS referrals in their clinic, investigated their roles and responsibilities as genetic counselors when working with this population, analyzed their workflow for this indication, assessed the impacts on their professional satisfaction, and explored potential options for improving workflow and care for the hEDS patient population. Reflexive thematic analysis yielded four themes: (1) Referrals for hEDS have generally increased over time and many institutions have implemented new policies to control this influx, (2) genetic counselors' primary roles include education and addressing psychosocial matters for this population, (3) genetic counselors feel both rewarded and challenged by these referrals, and (4) genetic counselors call for more education and training on hEDS for all healthcare specialties. Our findings provide a better understanding of the goals of the hEDS patient referrals to genetics specialists and the opportunities and challenges those referrals present. Genetic counselors have specific training and skills in psychosocial counseling and communication, in some ways making them ideal care providers for this population. However, they are simultaneously a scarce resource and the complex medical issues presented by many patients with hEDS make multidisciplinary management essential. We conclude with potential avenues for improving interactions with this population., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Genetic Counseling published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Society of Genetic Counselors.)

Background: Patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) often experience high rates of joint subluxations and dislocations, and associated pain that may require surgical interventions. Orthopaedic surgical management is challenging in this population, and patients will often undergo multiple unsuccessful surgeries. Outcomes data specific to patients with EDS are sparse in the orthopaedic surgery literature. We conducted a scoping review to evaluate the evidence and outcomes for orthopaedic surgery specifically for the EDS population., Methods: PubMed MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), CINHL, and Scopus from their inception to February 28, 2024 for all studies that reported outcomes for orthopaedic surgery in patients with EDS. Two reviewers independently determined study eligibility, rated study quality, and extracted data. Methodology followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The studies in this scoping review include Level III (retrospective cohort and case control) and Level IV (case series) evidence., Results: The literature search yielded a total of 71 citations published between 1990 and 2023. All were primary studies. 38 were single case studies, 14 were case series, and 19 were retrospective cohort studies. No randomized clinical studies or systematic reviews were identified. Overall, the reported findings for the various anatomical sites and procedures indicated that surgery outcomes were inconsistent. Our review highlights the need for future research to determine whether currently established surgical approaches for various orthopaedic conditions offer long-term clinical benefit in patients with EDS. This is clearly a challenging diagnosis, and more rigorous clinical studies are required to identify optimal treatment approaches., Conclusions: Our review found little evidence-based research to guide optimal surgical treatment in EDS. Established surgical techniques that have been shown to be successful in the wider orthopaedic population should be studied to determine their efficacy in the EDS population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) have significant health challenges that are well-documented, however their impact in terms of cost is not known. Our research objective was to examine the cost burden of EDS and HSD in the United States. We focused this analysis on those with commercial insurance plans., Methods: We queried the MarketScan® database for year 2021 for claims that contained an ICD-10 diagnosis code for EDS or hypermobility. Excess costs for patients in the EDS and HSD cohorts were determined by matching each patient to one patient in the database that did not have a claim for EDS or HSD and comparing total costs for the calendar year. We determined whether patients had claims for selected comorbid conditions likely to impact costs during the calendar year., Results: Sample sizes were 5,113 for adult (age ≥ 18) patients with EDS, 4,880 for adult patients with HSD, 1,059 for child (age 5-17) patients with EDS, and 2,427 for child patients with HSD. The mean excess costs were $21,100 for adult EDS patients, $11,600 for adult HSD patients, $17,000 for child EDS patients, and $11,000 for child HSD patients. EDS and HSD cohorts, both adults and children, with any of the comorbidities had greater healthcare costs. The largest difference was found in the EDS cohort with gastrointestinal comorbid conditions, with more than double the costs for adults., Discussion: We found that patients in the MarketScan database, adults and children, who had EDS or HSD had substantially higher associated excess healthcare costs than patients without EDS or HSD when considering age, sex, geographic location, and comorbidities. These disproportionate healthcare costs in this population have health policy and economic implications, including the need for rapid diagnosis, access to treatment, and accelerated research to advance treatments., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Schubart, Schaefer, Knight, Mills and Francomano.)

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is a common heritable connective tissue disorder that lacks a known genetic etiology. To identify genetic contributions to hEDS, whole exome sequencing was performed on families and a cohort of sporadic hEDS patients. A missense variant in Kallikrein-15 (KLK15 p. Gly226Asp), segregated with disease in two families and genetic burden analyses of 197 sporadic hEDS patients revealed enrichment of variants within the Kallikrein gene family. To validate pathogenicity, the variant identified in familial studies was used to generate knock-in mice. Consistent with our clinical cohort, Klk15 G224D/+ mice displayed structural and functional connective tissue defects within multiple organ systems. These findings support Kallikrein gene variants in the pathogenesis of hEDS and represent an important step towards earlier diagnosis and better clinical outcomes.

Background: The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a group of connective tissue disorders that are hereditary in nature and characterized by joint hypermobility and tissue fragility. The complex nature of this unique patient population requires multidisciplinary care, but appropriate centers for such care do not exist in large portions of the country. Need for more integrated services has been identified in Chicagoland, or Chicago and its suburbs. In order to explore and begin to address barriers to seeking appropriate care facing EDS patients in this region, we developed an online survey which we circulated through EDS social media groups for Chicagoland patients., Results: Three hundred and nine unique respondents participated. We found that there exists a strong medical need for and interest in the development of a center in the region, and participants reported that, if made available to them, they would make extensive and regular use of such a facility., Conclusions: We conclude that the establishment of a collaborative medical center specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of EDS, Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, and related disorders in the Chicagoland area would greatly benefit patients by providing comprehensive care, alleviate the burden on overworked healthcare providers, and contribute to the sustainability of medical facilities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) often have complex and multi-faceted symptoms across the lifespan. Pain and the related symptoms of fatigue and sleep disorders are common. The objective of this qualitative study was to understand how participants manage their pain and related symptoms., Methods: The design was a qualitative thematic content analysis. Twenty-eight interviews were conducted to collect data from individuals who were participants in a prior quantitative longitudinal study. A semi-structured interview guide was designed to focus on and understand the trajectory of pain, sleep, fatigue, and general function. The interview continued with questions about coping mechanisms and obstacles to maintaining a sense of well-being., Results: Symptoms reported by participants were widespread and often interwoven. Pain was universal and often resulted in fatigue and disordered sleep which impacted physical function. Most participants reported that their symptoms worsened over time. Participants reported a wide range of effective interventions and most reported developing self-care strategies to adapt to their disabilities/limitations. Solutions included complementary interventions discovered when conventional medicine was unsuccessful. Very few relied on a "system" of health care and instead developed their own strategies to adapt to their disabilities/limitations., Discussion: EDS symptoms are often debilitating, and their progression is unknown. For most participants, symptoms worsened over the time. Even though participants in our study, by experience, were self-reliant, the importance of knowledgeable medical providers to help guide self-care should be emphasized., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Author CF declared that she was an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Schubart, Mills, Francomano and Stuckey-Peyrot.)

Craniocervical instability (CCI) is increasingly recognized in hereditary disorders of connective tissue and in some patients following suboccipital decompression for Chiari malformation (CMI) or low-lying cerebellar tonsils (LLCT). CCI is characterized by severe headache and neck pain, cervical medullary syndrome, lower cranial nerve deficits, myelopathy, and radiological metrics, for which occipital cervical fusion (OCF) has been advocated. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with CCI and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) to determine whether the surgical outcomes supported the criteria by which patients were selected for OCF. Fifty-three consecutive subjects diagnosed with EDS, who presented with severe head and neck pain, lower cranial nerve deficits, cervical medullary syndrome, myelopathy, and radiologic findings of CCI, underwent open reduction, stabilization, and OCF. Thirty-two of these patients underwent suboccipital decompression for obstruction of cerebral spinal fluid flow. Questionnaire data and clinical findings were abstracted by a research nurse. Follow-up questionnaires were administered at 5-28 months (mean 15.1). The study group demonstrated significant improvement in headache and neck pain (p < 0.001), decreased use of pain medication (p < 0.0001), and improved Karnofsky Performance Status score (p < 0.001). Statistically significant improvement was also demonstrated for nausea, syncope (p < 0.001), speech difficulties, concentration, vertigo, dizziness, numbness, arm weakness, and fatigue (p = 0.001). The mental fatigue score and orthostatic grading score were improved (p < 0.01). There was no difference in pain improvement between patients with CMI/LLCT and those without. This outcomes analysis of patients with disabling CCI in the setting of EDS demonstrated significant benefits of OCF. The results support the reasonableness of the selection criteria for OCF. We advocate for a multi-center, prospective clinical trial of OCF in this population., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Patients with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome often experience psychological distress resulting from the perceived hostility and disinterest of their clinicians. We conducted 26 in-depth interviews with patients to understand the origins of this trauma and how it could be addressed in practice. We found that the cumulative effects of numerous negative encounters lead patients to lose trust in their healthcare providers and the healthcare system, and to develop acute anxiety about returning to clinic to seek further care. We describe this as clinician-associated traumatization . Ultimately, our interviewees described the result of this traumatization as worse - but preventable - health outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Objective: Joint hypermobility in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) predisposes persons with EDS to frequent subluxations and dislocations, chronic arthralgia, and soft-tissue rheumatism. Epidemiologic trends of rheumatologic conditions among persons with EDS are lacking. Prescription claims databases can reflect underlying disease burdens by using medication claims as disease proxies. We examined the prevalence of prescription claims for commonly prescribed immunomodulator and antiinflammatory (IMD) drugs among persons with EDS compared with their matched control person, and hypothesized peripubertal increases among female persons with EDS., Methods: We compared the percentages of IMD drug prescription claims among 3,484 persons with EDS (ages 5-62 years) against their age-, sex-, state of residence-, and earliest claim date-matched control persons using 10 years (2005-2014) of private prescription claims data and a minimum 2-year enrollment inclusion criterion., Results: Our cohort comprised 70% adults and 74% female persons. At least 1 IMD medication was prescribed to 65.4% of persons with EDS compared with 47.4% of control persons. We observed 1.3 to 4.2 times higher odds (P < 0.0001) for 5 out of 6 IMD drug classes among persons with EDS compared with matched control persons, except for biologic agents (conditional odds ratio 1.3, 95% confidence interval 0.8-2.0). Peripubertal increases were observed for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, oral, and injectable steroids., Conclusions: To our knowledge, our study is the first to examine the full range of IMD drug prescription claim trends among persons with EDS. We believe our research findings can have notable diagnostic and management implications for EDS patients who present with multiple comorbidities and generally require a more granular assessment of their medical conditions., (© 2021 American College of Rheumatology.)

The heritable disorders of connective tissue (HDCTs) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders caused by pathogenic variants in genes encoding a wide range of molecules involved in the structure and function of the extracellular matrix. Currently, more than 450 HDCTs are recognized. These include the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), Stickler syndrome, and a wide range of skeletal dysplasias. Recent evidence suggests that people with the HDCTs are at an increased risk of Chiari I malformation (CM1)., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mitochondrial dysfunction can be associated with a range of clinical manifestations. Here, we report a family with a complex phenotype including combinations of connective tissue, neurological, and metabolic symptoms that were passed on to all surviving children. Analysis of the maternally inherited mtDNA revealed a novel genotype encompassing the haplogroup J - defining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND5 m.13708G>A (A458T) variant arising on the mtDNA haplogroup H7A background, an extremely rare combination. Analysis of transmitochondrial cybrids with the 13708A-H7 mtDNA revealed a lower mitochondrial respiration, increased reactive oxygen species production (mROS), and dysregulation of connective tissue gene expression. The mitochondrial dysfunction was exacerbated by histamine, explaining why all eight surviving children inherited the dysfunctional histidine decarboxylase allele (W327X) from the father. Thus, certain combinations of common mtDNA variants can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction can affect extracellular matrix gene expression, and histamine-activated mROS production can augment the severity of mitochondrial dysfunction. Most important, we have identified a previously unreported genetic cause of mitochondrial disorder arising from the incompatibility of common, nonpathogenic mtDNA variants.

Introduction Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) was first reported as a potential complication of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in 2009. However, there have been few publications on the subject since that time, and optimal treatment of TCS in the setting of the hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) population remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of surgical release of the filum terminale (FT) for the treatment of TCS in this patient population. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of consecutive hEDS patients with TCS who were treated with surgical release after providing informed surgical consent over a 4.5-year period by a single neurosurgeon. Eighty-four patients were identified and asked to complete surveys with items regarding pre and postoperative symptoms, pain levels, and satisfaction. Results Thirty patients with a mean age of 30.8 ± 11.9 years, all female, were included. Low back pain was significantly improved across the entire cohort. For patients with both pre and postoperative data available, the distance they were able to walk also improved significantly. The majority of patients were "highly satisfied" with surgery (66%), followed by 21% "satisfied", 10% "neutral", and one patient who was "dissatisfied". One patient required repair of a dural leak one week postoperatively, and no other complications were noted. Conclusions Surgical release of the FT for TCS in patients with hEDS was safe and effective in this cohort. For most patients, there was a significant improvement in low back pain, urinary symptoms, and ability to ambulate distance. The majority of respondents reported subjective satisfaction with this operation. A further prospective study is warranted., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Zingman et al.)

Our study extends a cross-sectional dataset on the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) assembled by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), under a protocol entitled Clinical and Molecular Manifestations of Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue. We were successful in contacting 171 of the original 252 participants with EDS. Our study cohort included 91 participants who completed at least one of the following surveys: Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), and Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey, at both baseline and follow-up. Follow-up surveys occurred a median of 11.6 years after the baseline survey. We used mixed effects linear regression models to examine the change in scores for multiple indices reported by participants. There were small mean changes reflected in our estimates for the EDS population as a whole. There was wide heterogeneity between reported individual experiences, with some participants markedly improved and some dramatically worse. Men had a greater increase in mean pain severity over time than women. This is the first study to report a decade of longitudinal data in EDS., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HαT) is an autosomal dominant (AD) genetic trait characterized by elevated basal serum tryptase ≥8 ng/mL, caused by increased α-tryptase-encoding TPSAB1 copy number. HαT affects 5% to 7% of Western populations and has been associated with joint hypermobility. Hypermobility disorders are likewise frequently AD, but genetic etiologies are often elusive. Genotyping of individuals with hypermobility spectrum disorder (n = 132), hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (n = 78), or axial skeletal abnormalities with hypermobility (n = 56) was performed. Clinical features of individuals with and without HαT were compared. When analyzing our combined cohorts, dysphagia (p = 0.007) and retained primary dentition (p = 0.0003) were significantly associated with HαT, while positive associations with anaphylaxis (p = 0.07) and pruritus (P = 0.5) did not reach significance likely due to limited sample size. Overall, HαT prevalence is not increased in individuals with hypermobility disorders, rather linked to a unique endotype, demonstrating how HαT may modify clinical presentations of complex patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

We previously reported increased pain and gastrointestinal (GI) medication prescription claims among persons with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and peripubertal increase in opioid and anti-emetic claims among women with EDS. Herein, we hypothesized a higher proportion of respiratory and co-occurring respiratory and GI medication prescription claims among persons with EDS compared to their matched controls with increases among peripubertal women with EDS. We compared the proportions of respiratory and co-occurring respiratory and GI medication prescription claims among persons with EDS (aged 5-62) against their age-, sex-, state of residence-, and earliest claim date-matched controls using 10 years of private prescription claims data. Prescription claims among persons with EDS versus matched controls were increased for eight medication classes (p < .0001): intranasal/inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) (30.8% vs. 19.0%), oral steroids (30.0% vs. 16.5%), H1-antihistamines (26.2% vs. 12.2%), short-acting beta agonists (22.7% vs. 11.6%), decongestants (21.6% vs. 15.9%), leukotriene modifiers (8.9% vs. 3.6%), ICS/long-acting beta agonists (5.7% vs. 2.9%), muscarinic antagonists (2.5% vs. 0.9%), and co-occurring prescriptions (29% vs. 10%). Our results suggest a critical time window for peripubertal intervention and research and a need to focus on the pathogenesis and clinical evaluation of EDS-specific respiratory and aerodigestive disorders., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The Ehlers-Danlos Society Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes (EDS ECHO) is a portfolio of teleconferencing programs developed around the principles and practices of Project ECHO®, aimed at increasing awareness of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) among clinicians, enhancing their confidence in the assessment and management of these complex conditions, and generating networks of clinicians across specialties. We assessed the outcomes of the first EDS ECHO program, launched in April 2019, with two hub locations: Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and The Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK. Clinicians were surveyed before and 6 months after their participation. We describe the initial outcomes of the first four EDS ECHO programs, each comprising nine sessions. Participants reported increased levels of knowledge and confidence in providing care (93% and 95%, respectively) and an increase in referral network participation (65%). Additionally, 80% reported that their interest in EDS and HSD increased; 57% reporting a great increase. Also, 59% reported a decrease in feeling overwhelmed by EDS and HSD, and nearly half reported a decrease in their level of frustration because of participating in EDS ECHO. Clinicians participating in EDS ECHO programs know more, have more confidence in their ability to provide care, and feel energized by their participation., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

In late 2017, the global nonprofit, The Ehlers-Danlos Society (TEDS), was awarded a "Pipeline to Proposal" Tier A award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The goal of this application was to form a team of patients, researchers, other community support groups and stakeholders who are focused on establishing the Ehlers-Danlos Comorbidity Coalition to address the common health issues associated with this group of high morbidity, high disease burden conditions. The ongoing Coalition that is now funded by individual donors and expanding in its mission and members, is an example of successful collaboration spanning over borders and priorities., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Persons with the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) report a wide range of respiratory symptoms, most commonly shortness of breath, exercise limitation, and cough. Also reported are noisy breathing attributed to asthma, difficulty with deep inhalation, and inspiratory thoracic pain. The literature consists of case reports and small cross-sectional and cohort studies. One case-control study estimated twofold to threefold greater respiratory disease burden among persons with EDS as compared to controls. The differential diagnosis for symptoms is broad. Structural alterations include pectus deformities, scoliosis, recurrent rib subluxations, and tracheobronchomalacia, associated with varying degrees of physiologic impairment. Those with vascular EDS have an increased risk of pneumothorax, intrapulmonary bleeding, cysts, and nonmalignant fibrous nodules. Functional aerodigestive manifestations such as inducible laryngeal obstruction may be misdiagnosed as asthma, with gastro-esophageal dysmotility and reflux as common contributing factors. Inflammatory manifestations include costochondritis, bronchiectasis, and localized respiratory allergic and nonallergic mast cell activation. Cranio-cervical instability can dysregulate respiratory control pathways. There is a need for careful phenotyping using standardized clinical tools and patient-reported outcomes and continuing collaboration with aerodigestive specialists including otolaryngologists and gastroenterologists. Also needed is further evaluation of respiratory symptoms in persons with hypermobility spectrum disorders. Personalized monitoring strategies are invaluable for interpretation and long-term management of respiratory symptoms., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Victor Almon McKusick (VAM) is widely recognized as the father of the field of medical genetics. He established one of the first medical genetics clinics in the United States at Johns Hopkins in 1957 and developed a robust training program with the tripartite mission of education, research, and clinical care. Thousands of clinicians and scientists were educated over the years through the Short Course in Medical and Molecular Genetics, which VAM founded with Dr. Thomas Roderick in 1960. His Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders, serves as the authoritative reference for geneticists around the globe. Throughout his career he was an advocate for mapping the human genome. He collaborated with Dr. Frank Ruddle in founding the International Human Gene Mapping Workshops in the early 70's and was an avid proponent of the Human Genome Project. He was the founding President of the Human Genome Organization and a founding editor of the journal Genomics. His prodigious contributions to the field of medical genetics were recognized by multiple honors, culminating with the Japan Prize in 2008., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDSs) are a group of heritable disorders of connective tissue associated with an increased prevalence of both structural and functional GI conditions., Methods: We used 10 years (2005-2014) of administrative claims data comprised of 4294 people with clinician-diagnosed EDS, aged 5-62 years, and compared their frequency of GI drug prescription claims to their age-, sex-, state of residence-, and earliest claim date-matched controls. We categorized the GI medications into the following groups: acid suppressants, anti-emetics, irritable bowel syndrome drugs, and visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) medications., Key Results: Compared to controls, a significantly higher proportion of persons with EDS had prescription claims for at least one GI drug group, as well as for drugs in each of the four GI drug groups included in our study. By age-group, 25.7% children and 45.1% adults with EDS had prescription claims for at least one GI drug group compared with only 7.4% and 21.0% of controls, respectively (p < 0.0001). By gender, 44.0% of women and 25.3% of men with EDS had prescription claims for at least one class of GI drugs compared with 19.2% and 9.6% of controls, respectively (p < 0.0001)., Conclusions and Key Inferences: Predominant medication burden occurs among women with EDS, beginning peri-pubertally for anti-emetics and VHS drugs. High GI medication burden underscores previous evidence that GI dysmotility is common among persons with EDS., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The proclivity to atlantoaxial instability (AAI) has been widely reported for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Down syndrome. Similarly, we have found a higher than expected incidence of AAI in hereditary connective tissue disorders. We demonstrate a strong association of AAI with manifestations of dysautonomia, in particular syncope and lightheadedness, and make preliminary observations as to the salutary effect of surgical stabilization of the atlantoaxial motion segment., Methods: In an institutional review board-approved retrospective study, 20 subjects (16 women, 4 men) with hereditary connective tissue disorders had AAI diagnosed by computed tomography. Subjects underwent realignment (reduction), stabilization, and fusion of the C1-C2 motion segment. All subjects completed preoperative and postoperative questionnaires in which they were asked about performance, function, and autonomic symptoms, including lightheadedness, presyncope, and syncope., Results: All patients with AAI reported lightheadedness, and 15 had refractory syncope or presyncope despite maximal medical management and physical therapy. Postoperatively, subjects reported a statistically significant improvement in lightheadedness (P = 0.003), presyncope (P = 0.006), and syncope (P = 0.03), and in the frequency (P < 0.05) of other symptoms related to autonomic function, such as nausea, exercise intolerance, palpitations, tremors, heat intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux, and sleep apnea., Conclusions: This study draws attention to the potential for AAI to present with syncope or presyncope that is refractory to medical management, and for surgical stabilization of AAI to lead to improvement of these and other autonomic symptoms., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Alström Syndrome (ALMS) is an ultra-rare multisystem genetic disorder caused by autosomal recessive variants in the ALMS1 gene, which is located on chromosome 2p13. ALMS is a multisystem, progressive disease characterised by visual disturbance, hearing impairment, cardiomyopathy, childhood obesity, extreme insulin resistance, accelerated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), renal dysfunction, respiratory disease, endocrine and urologic disorders. Clinical symptoms first appear in infancy with great variability in age of onset and severity. ALMS has an estimated incidence of 1 case per 1,000,000 live births and ethnically or geographically isolated populations have a higher-than-average frequency. The rarity and complexity of the syndrome and the lack of expertise can lead to delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and inadequate care. Multidisciplinary and multiprofessional teams of experts are essential for the management of patients with ALMS, as early diagnosis and intervention can slow the progression of multi-organ dysfunctions and improve patient quality of life.These guidelines are intended to define standard of care for patients suspected or diagnosed with ALMS of any age. All information contained in this document has originated from a systematic review of the literature and the experiences of the authors in their care of patients with ALMS. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation (AGREE II) system was adopted for the development of the guidelines and for defining the related levels of evidence and strengths of recommendations.These guidelines are addressed to: a) specialist centres, other hospital-based medical teams and staffs involved with the care of ALMS patients, b) family physicians and other primary caregivers and c) patients and their families.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a heterogeneous group of hereditary disorders of connective tissue, with common features including joint hypermobility, soft and hyperextensible skin, abnormal wound healing and easy bruising. Fourteen different types of EDS are recognized, of which the molecular cause is known for 13 types. These types are caused by variants in 20 different genes, the majority of which encode the fibrillar collagen types I, III and V, modifying or processing enzymes for those proteins, and enzymes that can modify glycosaminoglycan chains of proteoglycans. For the hypermobile type of EDS, the molecular underpinnings remain unknown. As connective tissue is ubiquitously distributed throughout the body, manifestations of the different types of EDS are present, to varying degrees, in virtually every organ system. This can make these disorders particularly challenging to diagnose and manage. Management consists of a care team responsible for surveillance of major and organ-specific complications (for example, arterial aneurysm and dissection), integrated physical medicine and rehabilitation. No specific medical or genetic therapies are available for any type of EDS.

Despite well-established clinical associations between Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the precise prevalence is unknown. We therefore evaluated for hEDS in 91 POTS participants using the 2017 hEDS diagnostic checklist, which has three major criteria: 1) generalized joint hypermobility (Beighton score), 2) systemic features, family history, and 3) absence of exclusion criteria. Overall, 28 out of 91 POTS participants (31%) met clinical criteria for hEDS. An additional 24% of participants had generalized joint hypermobility without meeting hEDS criteria. Identifying the prevalence of hEDS in POTS is important for understanding possible mechanisms connecting these two syndromes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a group of heritable disorders of connective tissue (HDCT) characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility. Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is highly prevalent in EDS however mechanisms linking OI to EDS remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that impaired blood pressure (BP) and heart rate control is associated with lower arterial stiffness in people with EDS. Orthostatic vital signs and arterial stiffness were assessed in a cohort of 60 people with EDS (49 female, 36 ± 16 years). Arterial elasticity was assessed by central and peripheral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Central PWV was lower in people with EDS compared to reference values in healthy subjects. In participants with EDS, central PWV was correlated to supine systolic BP (r = 0.387, p = 0.002), supine diastolic BP (r = 0.400, p = 0.002), and seated systolic BP (r = 0.399, p = 0.002). There were no significant correlations between PWV and changes in BP or heart rate with standing ( p > 0.05). Between EDS types, there were no differences in supine hemodynamics or PWV measures ( p > 0.05). These data demonstrate that increased arterial elasticity is associated with lower BP in people with EDS which may contribute to orthostatic symptoms and potentially provides a quantitative clinical measure for future genotype-phenotype investigations.

A great deal of literature has drawn attention to the "complex Chiari," wherein the presence of instability or ventral brainstem compression prompts consideration for addressing both concerns at the time of surgery. This report addresses the clinical and radiological features and surgical outcomes in a consecutive series of subjects with hereditary connective tissue disorders (HCTD) and Chiari malformation. In 2011 and 2012, 22 consecutive patients with cervical medullary syndrome and geneticist-confirmed hereditary connective tissue disorder (HCTD), with Chiari malformation (type 1 or 0) and kyphotic clivo-axial angle (CXA) enrolled in the IRB-approved study (IRB# 10-036-06: GBMC). Two subjects were excluded on the basis of previous cranio-spinal fusion or unrelated medical issues. Symptoms, patient satisfaction, and work status were assessed by a third-party questionnaire, pain by visual analog scale (0-10/10), neurologic exams by neurosurgeon, function by Karnofsky performance scale (KPS). Pre- and post-operative radiological measurements of clivo-axial angle (CXA), the Grabb-Mapstone-Oakes measurement, and Harris measurements were made independently by neuroradiologist, with pre- and post-operative imaging (MRI and CT), 10/20 with weight-bearing, flexion, and extension MRI. All subjects underwent open reduction, stabilization occiput to C2, and fusion with rib autograft. There was 100% follow-up (20/20) at 2 and 5 years. Patients were satisfied with the surgery and would do it again given the same circumstances (100%). Statistically significant improvement was seen with headache (8.2/10 pre-op to 4.5/10 post-op, p < 0.001, vertigo (92%), imbalance (82%), dysarthria (80%), dizziness (70%), memory problems (69%), walking problems (69%), function (KPS) (p < 0.001). Neurological deficits improved in all subjects. The CXA average improved from 127° to 148° (p < 0.001). The Grabb-Oakes and Harris measurements returned to normal. Fusion occurred in 100%. There were no significant differences between the 2- and 5-year period. Two patients returned to surgery for a superficial wound infections, and two required transfusion. All patients who had rib harvests had pain related that procedure (3/10), which abated by 5 years. The results support the literature, that open reduction of the kyphotic CXA to lessen ventral brainstem deformity, and fusion/stabilization to restore stability in patients with HCTD is feasible, associated with a low surgical morbidity, and results in enduring improvement in pain and function. Rib harvest resulted in pain for several years in almost all subjects.

Background: People with the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), a group of heritable disorders of connective tissue, often report experiencing dental procedure pain despite local anesthetic (LA) use. Clinicians have been uncertain how to interpret this apparent LA resistance, as comparison of EDS and non-EDS patient experience is limited to anecdotal evidence and small case series. The primary goal of this hypothesis-generating study was to investigate the recalled adequacy of pain prevention with LA administered during dental procedures in a large cohort of people with and without EDS. A secondary exploratory aim asked people with EDS to recall comparative LA experiences., Methods: We administered an online survey through various social media platforms to people with EDS and their friends without EDS, asking about past dental procedures, LA exposures, and the adequacy of procedure pain prevention. Among EDS respondents who both received LA and recalled the specific LA used, we compared agent-specific pain prevention for lidocaine, procaine, bupivacaine, mepivacaine, and articaine., Results: Among the 980 EDS respondents who had undergone a dental procedure LA, 88% (n = 860) recalled inadequate pain prevention. Among 249 non EDS respondents only 33% (n = 83) recalled inadequate pain prevention (P < 0.001 compared to EDS respondents). The agent with the highest EDS-respondent reported success rate was articaine (30%), followed by bupivacaine (25%), and mepivacaine (22%)., Conclusions: EDS survey respondents reported nearly three times the rate of LA non-response compared to non-EDS respondents, suggesting that LAs were less effective in preventing their pain associated with routine office dental procedures., Competing Interests: DECLARATION OF INTEREST: The authors had no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2019 Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.)

Context: The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDSs) are a set of rare heritable disorders of connective tissue, characterized by defects in the structure and synthesis of extracellular matrix elements that lead to a myriad of problems including joint hypermobility and skin abnormalities. Because EDS affects multiple organ systems, defining clear boundaries and recognizing overlapping clinical features shared by disease phenotypes is challenging., Objectives: The objective of this study was to seek evidence of phenotypic subgroups of patients with distinctive symptom profiles and describe these resulting subgroups., Methods: Data were extracted from a repository assembled 2001-2013 by the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering was used to form distinct subgroups of patients with respect to the domains of pain, physical and mental fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and nighttime sleep. Domains were selected based on literature review, clinician expertise, and guidance from patient advisors., Results: One hundred seventy-five patients met all inclusion criteria. Three subgroups were identified. The Pain Dominant subgroup (39 patients) had the highest mean pain values, but lowest mean values of other symptoms. The High Symptom Burden subgroup (71 patients) had high mean values in all domains. The Mental Fatigue subgroup (65 patients) had a high mean value for mental fatigue and daytime sleepiness, but a lower mean value for pain., Conclusion: The subgroups aligned with clinical observation of the heterogeneous nature of EDS, with overlapping symptoms between subtypes and a wide divergence in degree of symptoms within subtypes. This exploratory study helps characterize the various phenotypes and comorbidities of patients with EDS., (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We describe a data repository on heritable disorders of connective tissue (HDCT) assembled by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural Research Program between 2001 and 2013. Participants included affected persons with a wide range of heritable connective tissue phenotypes, and unaffected family members. Elements include comprehensive history and physical examination, standardized laboratory data, physiologic measures and imaging, standardized patient-reported outcome measures, and an extensive linked biorepository. The NIA made a commitment to make the repository available to extramural investigators and deposited samples at Coriell Tissue Repository (N = 126) and GenTAC registry (N = 132). The clinical dataset was transferred to Penn State University College of Medicine Clinical and Translational Science Institute in 2016, and data elements inventoried. The consented cohort of 1,009 participants averaged 39 ± 18 years (mean ± SD, range 2-95) at consent; gender distribution is 71% F and 83% self-report Caucasian ethnicity. Diagnostic categories include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (classical N = 50, hypermobile N = 99, vascular N = 101, rare types and unclassified N = 178), Marfan syndrome (N = 33), Stickler syndrome (N = 60), fibromuscular dysplasia (N = 135), Other HDCT (N = 72). Unaffected family members (N = 218) contributed DNA for the molecular archive only. We aim to develop further discrete data from unstructured elements, analyze multisymptom HDCT manifestations, encourage data use by other researchers and thereby better understand the complexity of these high-morbidity conditions and their multifaceted effects on affected persons., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is a hereditary disorder of connective tissue, often presenting with complex symptoms can include chronic pain, fatigue, and dysautonomia. Factors influencing functional disability in the pediatric hEDS population are incompletely studied. This study's aims were to assess factors that affect quality of life in children and adolescents with hEDS. Individuals with hEDS between the ages 12-20 years and matched parents were recruited through retrospective chart review at two genetics clinics. Participants completed a questionnaire that included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™), PedsQL Multidimentional Fatigue Scale, Functional Disability Inventory, Pain-Frequency-Severity-Duration Scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, measures of anxiety and depression, and helpful interventions. Survey responses were completed for 47 children and adolescents with hEDS/hypermobility spectrum disorder (81% female, mean age 16 years), some by the affected individual, some by their parent, and some by both. Clinical data derived from chart review were compared statistically to survey responses. All outcomes correlated moderately to strongly with each other. Using multiple regression, general fatigue and pain scores were the best predictors of the PedsQL total score. Additionally, presence of any psychiatric diagnosis was correlated with a lower PedsQL score. Current management guidelines recommend early intervention to prevent disability from deconditioning; these results may help identify target interventions in this vulnerable population., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To review the association between orthostatic intolerance syndromes and both joint hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and to propose reasons for identifying hereditary connective tissue disorders in those with orthostatic intolerance in the context of both clinical care and research., Methods: We searched the published peer-reviewed medical literature for papers reporting an association between joint hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and orthostatic intolerance., Results: We identified 10 relevant papers. Although methodological variability between studies introduces some limitations, the published literature consistently identifies a significantly higher prevalence of orthostatic intolerance symptoms in patients with joint hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome than in healthy controls, and a significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular and autonomic abnormalities both at rest and during orthostatic challenge. Postural tachycardia syndrome is the most commonly recognized circulatory disorder. The severity of orthostatic symptoms in those with EDS correlates with impairments in quality of life., Conclusion: There is a strong association between several forms of cardiovascular dysfunction, most notably postural tachycardia syndrome, and joint hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. We propose that recognition of joint hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome among those with orthostatic intolerance syndromes has the potential to improve clinical care and the validity of research findings., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

AEBP1 encodes the aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein (ACLP) that associates with collagens in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and has several roles in development, tissue repair, and fibrosis. ACLP is expressed in bone, the vasculature, and dermal tissues and is involved in fibroblast proliferation and mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into collagen-producing cells. Aebp1 -/- mice have abnormal, delayed wound repair correlating with defects in fibroblast proliferation. In this study, we describe four individuals from three unrelated families that presented with a unique constellation of clinical findings including joint laxity, redundant and hyperextensible skin, poor wound healing with abnormal scarring, osteoporosis, and other features reminiscent of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Analysis of skin biopsies revealed decreased dermal collagen with abnormal collagen fibrils that were ragged in appearance. Exome sequencing revealed compound heterozygous variants in AEBP1 (c.1470delC [p.Asn490&#95;Met495delins(40)] and c.1743C>A [p.Cys581 ∗ ]) in the first individual, a homozygous variant (c.1320&#95;1326del [p.Arg440Serfs ∗ 3]) in the second individual, and a homozygous splice site variant (c.1630+1G>A) in two siblings from the third family. We show that ACLP enhances collagen polymerization and binds to several fibrillar collagens via its discoidin domain. These studies support the conclusion that bi-allelic pathogenic variants in AEBP1 are the cause of this autosomal-recessive EDS subtype., (Copyright © 2018 American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDSs) are a group of heritable connective tissue disorders. Patients with EDSs can develop excessive facial rhytids, nasal deformities, and facial scarring, for which they may seek consultation with a facial plastic surgeon. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes can be associated with serious surgical complications and should be identified preoperatively to facilitate optimal treatment. To our knowledge, no management guidelines for patients with EDSs exist in the facial plastic surgery literature. We present a review of the literature and management recommendations for the facial plastic surgeon., Observations: We performed a PubMed/MEDLINE search for all publications in the English language related to surgical experience in patients with EDSs. A total of 37 publications (including reviews and case series) were included. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are more common than appreciated, with an overall point prevalence between 1 in 2500 and 1 in 5000 according to existing literature. There are 6 main subtypes of EDSs that have significant phenotypic heterogeneity. Patients with classic type and hypermobile EDS (the 2 most common subtypes) can typically undergo elective facial plastic surgery without major complications. However, specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative issues, as outlined in this review, must be taken into consideration. Vascular EDS should serve as a contraindication to elective surgery given its potential for life-threatening complications., Conclusions and Relevance: Because of their skin laxity, patients with EDSs may present more frequently to facial plastic surgeons' offices. Simple screening questions can help the surgeon identify potential patients with EDSs. Treatment should be individualized and performed with extreme care to ensure optimal outcomes.

Classical EDS is a heritable disorder of connective tissue. Patients are affected with joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibilty, and skin fragility leading to atrophic scarring and significant bruising. These clinical features suggest consideration of the diagnosis which then needs to be confirmed, preferably by genetic testing. The most recent criteria for the diagnosis of EDS were devised in Villefranche in 1997. [Beighton et al. (1998); Am J Med Genet 77:31-37]. The aims set out in the Villefranche Criteria were: to enable diagnostic uniformity for clinical and research purposes, to understand the natural history of each subtype of EDS, to inform management and genetic counselling, and to identify potential areas of research. The authors recognized that the criteria would need updating, but viewed the Villefranche nosology as a good starting point. Since 1997, there have been major advances in the molecular understanding of classical EDS. Previous question marks over genetic heterogeneity have been largely surpassed by evidence that abnormalities in type V collagen are the cause. Advances in molecular testing have made it possible to identify the causative mutation in the majority of patients. This has aided the further clarification of this diagnosis. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the current knowledge and highlight areas for future research. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders characterized by joint hypermobility, skin extensibility, and tissue fragility. This communication briefly reports upon the neurological manifestations that arise including the weakness of the ligaments of the craniocervical junction and spine, early disc degeneration, and the weakness of the epineurium and perineurium surrounding peripheral nerves. Entrapment, deformation, and biophysical deformative stresses exerted upon the nervous system may alter gene expression, neuronal function and phenotypic expression. This report also discusses increased prevalence of migraine, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Tarlov cysts, tethered cord syndrome, and dystonia, where associations with EDS have been anecdotally reported, but where epidemiological evidence is not yet available. Chiari Malformation Type I (CMI) has been reported to be a comorbid condition to EDS, and may be complicated by craniocervical instability or basilar invagination. Motor delay, headache, and quadriparesis have been attributed to ligamentous laxity and instability at the atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial joints, which may complicate all forms of EDS. Discopathy and early degenerative spondylotic disease manifest by spinal segmental instability and kyphosis, rendering EDS patients prone to mechanical pain, and myelopathy. Musculoskeletal pain starts early, is chronic and debilitating, and the neuromuscular disease of EDS manifests symptomatically with weakness, myalgia, easy fatigability, limited walking, reduction of vibration sense, and mild impairment of mobility and daily activities. Consensus criteria and clinical practice guidelines, based upon stronger epidemiological and pathophysiological evidence, are needed to refine diagnosis and treatment of the various neurological and spinal manifestations of EDS. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare, nonatherosclerotic arterial disease for which the molecular basis is unknown. We comprehensively studied 47 subjects with FMD, including physical examination, spine magnetic resonance imaging, bone densitometry, and brain magnetic resonance angiography. Inflammatory biomarkers in plasma and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) cytokines in patient-derived dermal fibroblasts were measured by ELISA. Arterial pathology other than medial fibrodysplasia with multifocal stenosis included cerebral aneurysm, found in 12.8% of subjects. Extra-arterial pathology included low bone density (P<0.001); early onset degenerative spine disease (95.7%); increased incidence of Chiari I malformation (6.4%) and dural ectasia (42.6%); and physical examination findings of a mild connective tissue dysplasia (95.7%). Screening for mutations causing known genetically mediated arteriopathies was unrevealing. We found elevated plasma TGF-β1 (P=0.009), TGF-β2 (P=0.004) and additional inflammatory markers, and increased TGF-β1 (P=0.0009) and TGF-β2 (P=0.0001) secretion in dermal fibroblast cell lines from subjects with FMD compared to age- and gender-matched controls. Detailed phenotyping of patients with FMD allowed us to demonstrate that FMD is a systemic disease with alterations in common with the spectrum of genetic syndromes that involve altered TGF-β signaling and offers TGF-β as a marker of FMD., (© FASEB.)

Objective: The pathogenesis of CM-I is incompletely understood. We describe an association of CM-I and TCS that occurs in a subset of patients with normal size of the PCF., Methods: The prevalence of TCS was determined in a consecutively accrued cohort of 2987 patients with CM-I and 289 patients with low-lying cerebellar tonsils (LLCT). Findings in 74 children and 244 adults undergoing SFT were reviewed retrospectively. Posterior cranial fossa size and volume were measured using reconstructed 2D computed tomographic scans and MR images. Results were compared to those in 155 age- and sex-matched healthy control individuals and 280 patients with generic CM-I. The relationships of neural and osseus structures at the CCJ and TLJ were investigated morphometrically on MR images. Intraoperative CDU was used to measure anatomical structures and CSF flow in the lumbar theca., Results: Tethered cord syndrome was present in 408 patients with CM-I (14%) and 182 patients with LLCT (63%). In 318 patients undergoing SFT, there were no significant differences in the size or volume of the PCF as compared to healthy control individuals. Morphometric measurements demonstrated elongation of the brain stem (mean, 8.3 mm; P < .001), downward displacement of the medulla (mean, 4.6 mm; P < .001), and normal position of the CMD except in very young patients. Compared to patients with generic CM-I, the FM was significantly enlarged (P < .001). The FT was typically thin and taut (mean transverse diameter, 0.8 mm). After SFT, the cut ends of the FT distracted widely (mean, 41.7 mm) and CSF flow in the lumbar theca increased from a mean of 0.7 cm/s to a mean of 3.7 cm/s (P < .001). Symptoms were improved or resolved in 69 children (93%) and 203 adults (83%) and unchanged in 5 children (7%) and 39 adults (16%) and, worse, in 2 adults (1%) over a follow-up period of 6 to 27 months (mean, 16.1 months +/- 4.6 SD). Magnetic resonance imaging 1 to 18 months after surgery (mean, 5.7 months +/- 3.8 SD) revealed upward migration of the CMD (mean, 5.1 mm, P < .001), ascent of the cerebellar tonsils (mean, 3.8 mm, P < .001), reduction of brain stem length (mean, 3.9 mm, P < .001), and improvement of scoliosis or syringomyelia in some cases., Conclusions: Chiari malformation type I/TCS appears to be a unique clinical entity that occurs as a continuum with LLCT/TCS and is distinguished from generic CM-I by enlargement of the FM and the absence of a small PCF. Distinctive features include elongation and downward displacement of the hindbrain, normal position of the CMD, tight FT, and reduced CSF flow in the lumbar theca. There is preliminary evidence that SFT can reverse moderate degrees of tonsillar ectopia and is appropriate treatment for cerebellar ptosis after Chiari surgery in this cohort.

Object: Chiari malformation Type I (CM-I) is generally regarded as a disorder of the paraxial mesoderm. The authors report an association between CM-I and hereditary disorders of connective tissue (HDCT) that can present with lower brainstem symptoms attributable to occipitoatlantoaxial hypermobility and cranial settling., Methods: The prevalence of HDCT was determined in a prospectively accrued cohort of 2813 patients with CM-I. All patients underwent a detailed medical and neuroradiological workup that included an assessment of articular mobility. Osseous structures composing the craniocervical junction were investigated morphometrically using reconstructed 3D computed tomography and plain x-ray images in 114 patients with HDCT/CM-I, and the results were compared with those obtained in patients with CM-I (55 cases) and healthy control individuals (55 cases)., Results: The diagnostic criteria for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and related HDCT were met in 357 (12.7%) of the 2813 cases. Hereditability was generally compatible with a pattern of autosomal dominant transmission with variable expressivity. The diagnostic features of HDCT/CM-I were distinguished from those of CM-I by clinical stigmata of connective tissue disease, a greater female preponderance (8:1 compared with 3:1, p < 0.001), and a greater incidence of lower brainstem symptoms (0.41 compared with 0.11, p < 0.001), retroodontoid pannus formation (0.71 compared with 0.11, p < 0.001), and hypoplasia of the oropharynx (0.44 compared with 0.02, p < 0.001). Measurements of the basion-dens interval, basion-atlas interval, atlas-dens interval, dens-atlas interval, clivus-atlas angle, clivus-axis angle, and atlas-axis angle were the same in the supine and upright positions in healthy control individuals and patients with CM-I. In patients with HDCT/CM-I, there was a reduction of the basion-dens interval (3.6 mm, p < 0.001), an enlargement of the basion-atlas interval (3.0 mm, p < 0.001), and a reduction of the clivus-axis angle (10.8 degrees, p < 0.001), clivus-atlas angle (5.8 degrees, p < 0.001), and atlas-axis angle (5.3 degrees, p < 0.001) on assumption of the upright position. These changes were reducible by cervical traction or returning to the supine position., Conclusions: The identification of HDCT in 357 patients with CM-I establishes an association between two presumably unrelated mesodermal disorders. Morphometric evidence in this cohort-cranial settling, posterior gliding of the occipital condyles, and reduction of the clivus-axis angle, clivus-atlas angle, and atlas-axis angle in the upright position-suggests that hypermobility of the occipitoatlantal and atlantoaxial joints contributes to retroodontoid pannus formation and symptoms referable to basilar impression.

Objective: The chondron is a basic unit of articular cartilage that includes the chondrocyte and its pericellular matrix (PCM). This current study was designed to investigate the effects of the chondron PCM on the gene expression profile of chondrocytes., Design: Chondrons and chondrocytes were enzymatically isolated from human articular cartilage, and maintained in pellet culture. Pellets of chondrons or chondrocytes were collected at days 1, 3 and 5 for cDNA microarray analysis., Results: In comparison with chondrocytes alone, chondrons had 258 genes, in a broad range of functional categories, either up- or downregulated at the three time points tested. At day 1, 26 genes were significantly upregulated in chondrons and four downregulated in comparison to chondrocytes. At day 3, the number of upregulated chondron genes was 97 and the number downregulated was 43. By day 5, there were more downregulated genes (56) than upregulated genes (32) in chondrons. Upregulation of a group of heat shock proteins (HSPA1A, HSPA2 and HSPA8) in chondrons was validated by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Genes related to chondrocyte hypertrophy and dedifferentiation such as SSP1 and DCN were downregulated in chondrons as compared to the expression in chondrocytes., Conclusion: The presence of the PCM in chondrons has a profound influence on chondrocyte gene expression. Upregulation of the heat shock protein 70 may contribute to the robustness and active matrix production of chondrons. The intact PCM may further stabilize the phenotype of chondrocytes within chondrons.

Structural cardiovascular alterations in the classical and hypermobile forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome(EDS) warrant investigation. We have examined a cohort of 38 patients with hypermobile and classical EDSs using two-dimensional echocardiography. The cohort includes 7 males and 31 females, with an age range from 12-60 years. Altered echocardiographic parameters were seen in the initial cross-sectional data analysis in 24/38 patients. Five of the 38 participants had mildly dilated aortic root (AR) or sinuses of Valsalva (SV), and an additional 7 patients had an abnormal pouching of the SV, although the absolute dimensions did not exceed the normal range. Ten patients had mild mitral, tricuspid, or aortic regurgitation, and only one patient had mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Three patients had low normal systolic function; three had evidence of mildly elevated pulmonary pressures, and two patients had mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Five patients had evidence of impaired left ventricular relaxation (LVR) based on mitral valve E to A velocity ratio. Interestingly, 26/38 subjects demonstrated a prominent right coronary artery (RCA) easily visualized by trans-thoracic echocardiography, and 10/38 had an elongated cardiac silhouette on the 4-chamber apical views. The "pouching" shape of the SV was more common in hypermobile type than in the classical type of EDS. The study is ongoing and will accrue longitudinal data on 100 subjects with classical and hypermobile EDSs at 2-year intervals., (Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The purpose of this study was to establish diagnostic criteria for Stickler syndrome. Ninety patients from 38 families had complete evaluations for possible Stickler syndrome. Molecular confirmation of COL2A1 mutation status (type I Stickler syndrome) was available on 25 patients from six families. In the remaining 65 patients, 47 from 25 families were affected with Stickler syndrome and 18 from seven families were unaffected with Stickler syndrome. A diagnostic nosology based on type I Stickler patients with known COL2A1 mutations was applied to clinically affected and unaffected patients. A diagnostic scale of 9 points evaluated molecular data or family history data and characteristic ocular, orofacial, auditory, and musculoskeletal findings. A score of > or =5 was diagnostic of Stickler syndrome. These criteria demonstrate 100% sensitivity when applied to type I Stickler syndrome patients with known COL2A1 mutations, 98% sensitivity when applied to clinically affected Stickler patients, and 86% specificity when applied to patients unaffected based on clinical and/or molecular analysis. We conclude that diagnostic criteria based on type I Stickler patients with molecularly confirmed COL2A1 mutations appear to be sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of this syndrome and should be helpful to clinicians when making the diagnosis.

For more than a decade, a powerful movement promoting the integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional medicine has evolved. Throughout the same period, there has been a monumental shift in the biologic sciences, and in perspectives on disease, resulting from advances in genetics. It is noteworthy, and perhaps not coincidental, that these "movements" have been occurring in parallel. The simultaneous growth of complementary medicine and genetic medicine may be fueled by a deep interest in the development of "personalized" medicine. There is a prevailing view that the metaphysical visions of these two fields are in conflict. To advance discussion of this question, we describe what we believe are the common philosophies and goals of these apparently disparate fields, and why it would be advantageous for them to work together in the service of the public's health.