Is Ehlers-Danlos an Autoimmune Disease?
What is Ehlers-Danlos?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can take one of several forms, but essentially, it means the body has a problem producing collagen, making your connective tissues weaker than they should be. Different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are associated with a variety of genetic causes, some of which are inherited and passed on from parent to child.
How Many Types of Ehlers-Danlos are There?
What is Ehlers-Danlos?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can take one of several forms, but essentially, it means the body has a problem producing collagen, making your connective tissues weaker than they should be. Different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are associated with a variety of genetic causes, some of which are inherited and passed on from parent to child.
Currently, there are 14 formally recognized subtypes, and the Ehlers-Danlos Society has great resources for each:
- Arthrochalasia EDS (aEDS)
- Brittle Cornea Syndrome (BCS)
- Cardiac-valvular EDS (cvEDS)
- Classical EDS (cEDS)
- Classical-like EDS (clEDS)
- Dermatosparaxis EDS (dEDS)
- Hypermobile EDS (hEDS)
- Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD)
- Kyphoscoliotic EDS (kEDS)
- Musculocontractural EDS (mcEDS)
- Myopathic EDS (mEDS)
- Periodontal EDS (pEDS)
- Spondylodysplastic EDS (spEDS)
- Vascular EDS (vEDS)
Is Ehlers-Danlos an Autoimmune Disease?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is not classified as an autoimmune disease because it is primarily a genetic condition caused by a mutation that affects collagen production, a key component of connective tissue, unlike autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the body’s tissues. A contrasting example is mixed connective tissue disease, an autoimmune disease where antibodies attack the body’s connective tissues.
Recent research shows that there is evidence of an autoimmune process associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in specific organs.
Recommended Resources:
Healthcare Professionals Directory
The Ehlers-Danlos Society recognizes the challenges in finding knowledgeable healthcare professionals for EDS and HSD. To improve access to care, they offer a global directory of providers.
Revenge of the Gaslit Patients
This article sheds light on the powerful role of patient-researchers with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), who channel their lived experiences into advancing research on a misunderstood condition. Often gaslit and dismissed by medical professionals, these individuals are challenging outdated diagnostic tools, uncovering genetic clues, and pushing for the recognition and understanding hEDS patients deserve. Their work highlights the urgent need for further research and the importance of the human element in science to address systemic barriers and improve care for those with hEDS.