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Why do some with clinical EDS diagnoses test negative for VEDS, but have vascular events? |
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The "vascular events" that occur in VEDS include
arterial dissection, arterial rupture, arterial aneurysm, organ
rupture. When these occur, the result may be an infarct (loss of blood
supply), a bleed into an open space or an organ, or an occlusion. In
addition to these events, individuals with VEDS often, although not
always, have a lifelong history of easy bruising. Any or all of these
vascular problems can occur in the absence of VEDS, in a "normal"
individual. When they do occur, they may occur at a later age than in
VEDS or to a lesser degree or much less often. The challenge, for the
physician, is to sort out whether the "vascular event' that the patient
describes or experiences is a consequence of normal aging and living,
or the consequence of an underlying collagen disorder. The same issues
apply when considering vascular events in people with other forms of
EDS. If a person with hypermobile EDS experiences a vascular event, the
physician will need to consider whether this is coincidence or an
association. TheĀ esearch studies that could be done to determine if
individuals with other forms of EDS are at increased risk (as compared
to the general population) have not been done. Answered by Melanie Pepin
MS, CGC. Bruising is common; vascular rupture, dissection, etc., are
not in other forms of EDS. Answered by Peter Byers, MD.
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