Classic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (cEDS) is a heritable connective tissue disorder characterized by skin hyperextensibility, atrophic scarring, and generalized joint hypermobility (GJH). The skin is soft, velvety, or doughy to the touch. In addition, the skin is hyperextensible, meaning that it extends easily and snaps back after release. The skin is fragile, as manifested by splitting of the dermis following relatively minor trauma, especially over pressure points (knees, elbows) and areas prone to trauma (shins, forehead, chin). Wound healing is poor, and stretching, thinning, and pigmentation of scars is characteristic, leading to the presence of atrophic and/or hemosiderotic scars. Easy bruising is also a hallmark of cEDS. GJH is present in most but not all affected individuals, evidenced by the presence of a Beighton score of five or greater, either on examination or historically. Joint instability complications may comprise sprains and dislocations/subluxations. Mild muscle hypotonia with delayed motor development, fatigue and muscle cramps, and some skeletal morphologic alterations (scoliosis, pectus deformities, genus/hallux valgus, pes planus) are regularly observed. While aortic root dilatation and mitral valve prolapse are seen in cEDS, they are rarely clinically significant. Arterial aneurysm and rupture have been reported in a few individuals with cEDS. [from
GeneReviews]