Many individuals with connective tissue problems (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) develop Multiple Sclerosis. Studies show approximately 10% more Ehlers-Danlos patients in the Multiple Sclerosis group than in the general population.
It may get quite interesting when researchers, observers, and hypothesizers start to make connections.
W just came across advertisements for research projects involving people who have multiple sclerosis or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Is there a link between MS and EDS?
There isn’t much evidence to show that MS and EDs are linked, although just a few people have been diagnosed with both.
Peripheral neuropathies, poor proprioception, muscle weakness, and gait abnormalities are all known neurological symptoms of EDS, which gets agitated with the co-occurrence of multiple sclerosis.
More common are the vascular characteristics, such as intracranial aneurysms, subarachnoid haemorrhage (bleeding between the brain and the thin tissues membranes which cover the brain), and spontaneous artery rupture. Various congenital vascular and brain anatomical anomalies have been reported.
Multiple sclerosis
It is a potentially devastating brain and spinal cord illness (central nervous system). The protective sheath (myelin) surrounding nerve fibres is attacked by the immune system in MS, causing communication issues between the human brain and the rest of the body. The condition might eventually cause permanent nerve injury or degeneration.
The degree of nerve/neurons damage and which nerves are damaged determine the signs and symptoms of MS. Some persons with severe MS lose their ability to walk independently or at all, while others go into remission for long periods without experiencing any new symptoms.
Symptoms and signs in EDS individuals with multiple sclerosis
Patients with multiple sclerosis and EDS frequently acquire generalized ventricular dilatation over time, along with or without cerebral atrophy. According to case reports in the literature, some multiple sclerosis patients acquire the usual “normal pressure hydrocephalus” triad of dementia, gait disturbance, and incontinence, which is responsive to shunts.
Because studies show a form of external communicating hydrocephalus in the Ehlers-Danlos population, the author hypothesizes that the same type of hydrocephalus can occur in people with Multiple Sclerosis.
To test this idea, researchers will measure the head circumference of Multiple Sclerosis patients between the ages of birth and 15 months (before the skull sutures have closed).
Congenital CCSVI (cerebrospinal venous insufficiency), excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production, inadequate cerebral spinal fluid outflow, or a combination of these factors could cause high pressure on the brain. A retrospective study of skull expansion is required to rule out these possibilities, allowing for early treatment and the possibility of avoiding neurological symptoms and their often severe consequences. “Benign External Hydrocephalus,” it is believed, is not a benign condition.
What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and how does it affect you?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) refers to a set of inherited connective tissue illnesses characterized by a genetic deficiency in collagen. The skin, joints, and blood vessels can all be affected by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is characterized by skin extensibility, joint hypermobility, and tissue fragility.
In the United States, the prevalence of EDS is believed to be 1 in 400,000 people; however, mild cases may go undiagnosed. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the occurrence of MS in the United States is believed to be around 90 per 100,000. To date, [11 variations of EDS] have been found, each with unique genetic, biochemical, and clinical characteristics.
Only six of the eleven varieties or forms of EDS have a specific collagen deficiency. Overlap between variants is widespread, and more than a third of EDS patients do not fit neatly into a single category.
Because of spontaneous artery rupture or internal organ perforation, one variant of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Type IV, is severe and life-threatening.
Type VI is likewise deadly, though it is quite uncommon. Other types of EDS, on the other hand, are usually less harmful. Even if they are restricted, patients can frequently live a healthy life.
Recent Research:
According to a study released in 2008, those with EDS are more likely to get MS. (Multiple Sclerosis, vol. 14, no. 5, p. 567 570, 2008)
According to researchers, the frequency of EDS in the general population is estimated to be 1 in 5,000 people (which is considerably higher than the stats listed above for the United States alone).
As a result of this increased incidence rate, study authors estimate that MS patients are 10 to 11 times more likely than the general population to have EDS. This enhanced susceptibility could be considerably higher given the lower incidence rate.
Treatment:
Multiple sclerosis with EDS has no known cure. On the other hand, treatments can help patients recover faster from attacks, change the disease course, and manage symptoms.
