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Gastrointestinal involvement in the Ehlers–Danlos syndromes
Author(s) -
Fikree Asma,
Chelimsky Gisela,
Collins Heidi,
Kovacic Katcha,
Aziz Qasim
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part c: seminars in medical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1552-4876
pISSN - 1552-4868
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.c.31546
Subject(s) - ehlers–danlos syndrome , medicine , irritable bowel syndrome , connective tissue , quality of life (healthcare) , intensive care medicine , gastroenterology , surgery , pathology , nursing
Current evidence suggests that an association exists between non‐inflammatory hereditary disorders of connective tissue such as the Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Patients with EDS can present with both structural problems such as hiatus hernias, visceroptosis, rectoceles, and rectal prolapse as well as functional problems such as disordered gut motility. It has recently been demonstrated that patients with hypermobile EDS (hEDS) present with GI symptoms related to the fore and hind‐gut and these patients frequently meet the criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders such as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. Presence of GI symptoms in EDS patients influences their quality of life. Specific evidence based management guidelines for the management of GI symptoms in EDS patients do not exist and these patients are often treated symptomatically. There is, however, recognition that certain precautions need to be taken for those patients undergoing surgical treatment. Future studies are required to identify the mechanisms that lead to GI symptoms in patients with EDS and more specific treatment guidelines are required. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.