Session Information
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019
Session Title: Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine Research Report
Session Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Research Hub - Kiosk 8
Disclosures: Bo Song, MD: Nothing to disclose
Objective: To examine the demographics and common presenting symptoms of those with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
Design: Retrospective Chart Review
Setting: Outpatient Clinic
Participants: 27 patients (26 female, 1 male) ages 19-63 seen in pain/musculoskeletal clinic between 1/1/2018 and 2/28/2019
Interventions: None
Main Outcome Measures: Age, Gender, Sub-classification of EDS, Type/location of pain, Presence of commonly associated symptoms (migraine, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), cardiac anomalies, mast cell disease, gastroparesis, Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)).
Results: Our patient population was comprised of 27 total patients with 96% female predominance. Ages ranged from 19-63 with 19/27 under 40 years old. 17/27 patients demonstrated the Hypermobile subtype, 1/27 the Classic subtype, 1/27 the Cardiac Valvular subtype, and 8/27 unclassified. Of these patients, the most common area of pain was the ankle (77.8%) followed by the knee (74.1%), neck (66.7%), shoulder (63%), hip (59.3%), lumbar spine (59.3%), hand/wrist (51.9%), elbow (33.3%), thoracic spine (25.9%), ribs (18.5%), feet (11.1%) sacroiliac joint (7.4%), and coccyx (3.7%). 26% of patients also complained of neuropathic pain. With regards to frequently associated conditions to EDS, the most common symptom was migraine (77.8%), POTS (62.9%), mast cell disease (40.7%), TMJ (37.0%), cardiac anomalies (29.6%), gastroparesis (29.6%).
Conclusions: Patients suffering from EDS often present with a myriad of symptoms, typically of the musculoskeletal type. Demographics favor younger females with the Hypermobile subtype of EDS. The lower extremity seems to be more likely affected than the upper extremity which could be attributed to the increased weight bearing load on those joints, however these patients often complain of pain in multiple areas at once. Classically, EDS is associated with other comorbid conditions such as migraines, POTS, cardiac anomalies, TMJ syndrome, gastroparesis, and mast cell disease, making it a difficult disease to diagnose and treat effectively.
Level of Evidence: Level IV
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Song B, Epstein MH, Yeh PC, Nguyen DD, Ikpeama U, Harrell JS. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: Who Is Affected and How They Present [abstract]. PM R. 2019; 11(S2)(suppl 2). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-who-is-affected-and-how-they-present/. Accessed November 21, 2024.« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2019
PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-who-is-affected-and-how-they-present/