DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently was diagnosed with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. My doctor said there's no cure and that it's genetic. What can be done to treat this? I have two young children. Should they be tested for it?
ANSWER: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome often causes overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin. When you have this disorder, you may be prone to dislocating joints and bruising easily. Your skin may not heal well.
Vascular Ehlers-Danlos is a more severe form of the disorder that affects blood vessels. It can weaken the aorta, which is the large artery that carries blood away from your heart, as well as the arteries in the neck and abdomen. In some cases, vascular Ehlers-Danlos can weaken the walls of the large intestine or uterus, too.
