Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of inherited disorders marked by extremely loose joints, hyperelastic skin that bruises easily, and/or easily damaged blood vessels. It is caused by a genetic mutation in which the body creates less collagen.
There are 13 types of EDS:
*Classical type affects about one in 20,000. In addition to hypermobility the patient has significant skin manifestations such as easy bruising and very hyperelastic skin.
*The Classical-like type is similar to the classical type. 
*Hypermobile type affects more than one in 10,000 and results in frequent dislocations, subluxations and often has less skin involvement than Classical types.
*Vascular type is very rare and only affects one in 100,000. Vascular patients are typically have large eyes, small chin, sunken cheeks, thin nose and lips and lobeless ears. Veins and organs are fragile making this the most serious form.
*Cardiac-Valvular also involves the cardiac and vascular systems making veins and organs more fragile.
*Kyphoscoliosis type is exceptionally rare with only 60 reported cases worldwide. The main symptoms are progressive curvature of the spine (scoliosis), fragile eyes, and severe muscle weakness.
*Arthrochalasia type is even rarer with only 30 known cases. It's an extreme version of the hypermobile type with very loose joints and frequent dislocations of the hips.
*Dermatosparaxis type is the most rare with only 10 reported cases. It's an extreme form for classical type with sagging and extremely fragile skin.
*Brittle Cornea Syndrome features a blue sclerae in the eye and thin corneas and can cause issues with eyesight.
*Spondylodysplastic EDS has features such as short stature, muscle hypotonia and bowing of limbs. 
*Musculocontractural EDS has features such as club foot, characteristic chraniofacial features aswell as skin hyperextension bruising and skin fragility 
*Myopathic EDS can feature muscle atrophy that can improve with age as well as limited mobility in joints such as the knee hip and elbow while experiencing smaller joint Hypermobility
*Periodontal EDS features oral complexities and pretibial plaques 
All types have common symptoms such as some of the classical and hypermobile features and even some vascular features such as skin and organ hyperelasticity including severe pain, joint hypermobility, skin issues, gastrintestinal problems, fatigue, heart problems and a resistance to local anaestetics and painkillers. Overall it's currently estimated about one in 5,000 have some form of EDS, however many of the more minor versions of hypermobile and classical type are often undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed. 
For most people living with this disorder, lifespan is normal. For a few, even, they are in little pain and have merely double-jointedness and stretchy skin. Many experience pain that greatly interferes with their life on a day-to-day basis and need to take very strong opiate/opiod painkillers. However, those with the rare vascular type of EDS are at significantly increased risk for rupture of a major organ or blood vessel. Average life expectancy of these individuals is 48 years. These individuals, therefore, have a high risk of sudden death. Intelligence is normal. Most people with this disorder look "normal" although they typically retain a slightly youthful look and have softer skin.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at NIH
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at Wikipedia
A woman with Ehlers-Danlos talks about her condition at Cracked.comru:Синдром Элерса — ДанлосаCategory:Diseases