Gajarawala, Shilpa

Abstract Background Wide-spread mast cell (MC)-associated symptoms and MC activation syndrome (MCAS) are often reported in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). The goal of this study was to develop a novel MC score based on 11 self-reported MC-related conditions with clinical and research utility to better understand MC symptoms in hEDS and HSD patients. Methods From November 1, 2019, to June 13, 2025, patients ( n =2,141) filled out an Intake Questionnaire at the Mayo Clinic Florida EDS Clinic that included 11 self-reported questions related to categories of MC-related conditions for a MC score ranging from 0/11 to 11/11. Based on the MC score distribution in hEDS and HSD patients, a MC score of 0-1 was considered a low MC score and ≥5 was considered a high MC score. Symptoms/comorbidities were compared between patients with high vs. low MC scores. Results From the 2,141 hEDS/HSD patients, 535 (25.0%) had a MC score ≥5 (Hi MC). MCAS-specific symptoms such as nausea and vomiting were reported more often in hEDS/HSD patients with a high vs. low MC score ( p <0.0001). Random clinical blood tryptase and urinary MC markers were not elevated in patients with high MC scores ( n =50/group), although high MC scores were found to significantly reduce urinary creatinine levels indicating that the protein used to normalize data was affected by MC activity. In contrast, random blood IgE, tryptase and major basic protein (MBP) by ELISA were increased in patients with high MC scores (e.g., IgE hEDS p =0.0004, HSD p =0.003). Of note, the percentage of patients reporting abuse or post-traumatic stress disorder was nearly doubled in patients with high vs. low MC scores (Abuse and PTSD: hEDS p < 0.0001; HSD p < 0.0001). Overall, 109/135 (80.7%) in hEDS and 129/135 (95.6%) in HSD reported more symptoms/comorbidities if they had a high MC score. Conclusions We found that hEDS/HSD patients with high MC scores self-reported more widespread symptoms/comorbidities and higher MC-related blood markers than patients with low MC scores indicating the utility of this tool to evaluate the level of widespread MC activity in hEDS, HSD and other patients.

Background Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSDs) are heritable connective tissue disorders characterized by widespread fragile soft connective tissue affecting the skin, ligaments, joints, vasculature, and internal organs. Although hEDS and HSD are autosomal-dominant conditions and would be expected to display a 1:1 sex ratio, studies report higher prevalence in women. Objectives The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine whether self-reported sexual problems differed between females and males diagnosed with hEDS or HSD compared with controls with chronic pain but no hypermobility. Methods In this exploratory retrospective study, we examined 1,407 patients diagnosed with hEDS or HSD according to the 2017 diagnostic criteria for eight indicators of sexual problems based on a validated screening tool. Results Patients in each diagnosis primarily self-reported as White, non-Hispanic females (90%). Of the 1,407 patients who attended the EDS Clinic, 976 (69%) were diagnosed with HSD, 240 (17%) with hEDS, and 191 (14%) were chronic pain controls with neither diagnosis. For HSD, 937 (96%) were females vs. 39 (4%) males (24:1 females to males), while for hEDS, 210 (88%) were females vs. 30 (13%) males (7:1 females to males), and controls were 165 (86%) females vs. 26 (14%) males (6:1 females to males). Females with hEDS reported significantly higher rates of sexual issues than chronic pain controls, including sexual problems (69%, p = 0.018), problems with sexual interest (41%, p = 0.023), sexual pain (45%, p = 0.006), and orgasm difficulty (34%, p = 0.022) compared with males with hEDS or males or females with HSD. In contrast, males diagnosed with hEDS did not report any sexual problems over controls, and males and females diagnosed with HSD reported only one issue—more problems with sexual interest—compared with controls (females p = 0.019, males p = 0.018). However, the small number of males in this study limits conclusions that can be drawn for them. Conclusions This study is unique because we examine sex differences in sexual problems in patients with hEDS and HSD. Our findings indicate a higher percentage of sexual problems in females with hEDS than chronic pain controls without hypermobility, but this was not observed for females with HSD.

Background/Objective: It remains unknown whether patients with the more common forms of hypermobility carry an elevated risk for the development of intracranial/cervical artery abnormalities. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, spontaneous cervical artery dissections, and fibromuscular dysplasia in patients with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) who presented to an academic headache clinic. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. We used an electronic medical record to look for all patients seen at the Mayo Clinic Florida Headache Center and EDS Clinic between 2019 and 2025 with a diagnosis of hEDS or HSD and neuroimaging of both the intracranial and cervical arteries. Results: There were 103 patients who met the inclusion criteria. There was no statistically significant difference between hEDS and HSD patients in developing cerebral/cervical arterial anomalies. Of the sample, 95% of the hypermobile patients with abnormal neuroimaging also had migraine. A total of eleven (10.7%) patients (hEDS + HSD) were diagnosed with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Trends included age less than 50 years, small aneurysms in the anterior circulation, and having migraine with aura. Five (4.8%) patients were diagnosed with spontaneous cervical artery dissection with trends for HSD, over the age of 50 years, vertebral artery involvement and a history of migraine without aura. Six (5.8%) patients were diagnosed with fibromuscular dysplasia with trends for HSD, over the age of 50 years, carotid artery involvement and a history of migraine with aura. Conclusions: This is the first study to identify that patients with the more common type of EDS, HSD and hEDS, and a possible concomitant history of migraine have a heightened risk for the development of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, spontaneous cervical artery dissections, and fibromuscular dysplasia. Our findings suggest the need for targeted screening with intracranial and extracranial arterial imaging for this unique patient population.

Abstract Background: Although hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are inherited disorders expected to display a 1:1 sex ratio, most studies report a strong female dominance. This study analyzed sex differences in 122 self-reported symptoms and comorbidities in patients diagnosed with hEDS or HSD using the 2017 criteria. Methods: Self-reported data was obtained from November 1, 2019, to April 25, 2025, ( n =2,451) from an Intake Questionnaire of adult (≤18 years old) patients diagnosed with hEDS or HSD at the EDS Clinic at Mayo Clinic Florida and analyzed by sex. Results: We found that 90.6% ( n =575) of hEDS patients were female and 9.4% ( n =60) were male, with a sex ratio of 9.6:1 female-to-male, while 95.2% ( n =1,728) of HSD patients were female and 4.8% ( n =88) were male, with a sex ratio of 19.6:1 female-to-male. Females were older than males: hEDS 35 vs. 28 years of age ( p <0.001), HSD 34 vs. 31 years of age ( p =0.004). Overall, females self-reported more symptoms/comorbidities than males: hEDS 31/122 (25.4%), HSD 59/122 (48.4%). In contrast, only 5/122 (4.1%) symptoms/comorbidities were self-reported more often in males including attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, delay in developmental milestones, snoring, autism spectrum disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. Females with HSD had more mast cell-related symptoms (i.e., hives p <0.001) which were reflected in higher mast cell scores than males ( p <0.001). Patients with higher mast cell scores also had higher serum levels of total IgE ( p =0.029). More females with HSD were diagnosed with fibromyalgia ( p <0.001) and reported symptoms associated with autonomic dysfunction than males. Aside from abuse, which was higher in females (hEDS p =0.039, HSD p <0.001), few sex differences were reported for psychological symptoms/comorbidities. In support for the idea that elevated mast cell activity in females may lead to extracellular matrix remodeling that promotes hypermobility, females with hEDS/HSD had greater serum collagen-4α1 ( p <0.0001) and fibronectin ( p =0.015) than males by ELISA. Conclusions: Females with hEDS and HSD report a higher burden of symptoms/comorbidities than males, providing a possible explanation for fewer males being reported in demographic data. Sex differences in symptoms/comorbidities may reflect sex differences in pathogenic drivers of disease.

Abstract Objectives Patients with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) experience a wide array of symptoms and system disorders. This study aimed to identify whether differences occurred in 115 self-reported symptoms and comorbidities in patients diagnosed with hEDS or HSD. Methods In this study we analysed self-reported data from an EDS Clinic intake questionnaire in patients diagnosed with hEDS, HSD or no hypermobile conditions. Results From 1 November 2019 to 7 March 2024, the EDS Clinic saw 2088 patients. Using the 2017 diagnostic criteria, 66.5% were diagnosed with HSD (n = 1389), 20.3% with hEDS (n = 423), 10.6% with historic HSD (H-HSD) or localized HSD (L-HSD) (n = 256) (hypermobile controls) and 2.6% were not diagnosed with hEDS, HSD, H-HSD or L-HSD (n = 55) (controls). Symptoms/comorbidities that occurred with high prevalence in both hEDS and HSD included joint pain (hEDS 82.0%, HSD 88.9%), allergy (hEDS 77.0%, HSD 77.0%), subluxations (hEDS 71.2%, HSD 72.6%), brain fog (hEDS 70.0%, HSD 74.7%), headache (hEDS 68.1%, HSD 69.1%), anxiety (hEDS 60.3%, HSD 69.3%), depression (hEDS 52.2%, HSD 58.0%), migraine (hEDS 53.7%, HSD 52.5%), nausea (hEDS 54.6%, HSD 59.5%) and constipation (hEDS 53.0%, HSD 57.2%). In contrast, 9/115 (8%) symptoms/comorbidities were self-reported significantly more often in hEDS but 42/115 (37%) in HSD. hEDS patients reported more symptoms that suggest a defect in collagen, such as dislocation, hernias and rectal prolapse, while HSD patients reported more joint, muscle, allergy, neurological, gastrointestinal, sleep and psychological symptoms/comorbidities. Conclusion Although we found an overlap in some symptoms and comorbidities self-reported by hEDS/HSD patients, such as allergy/atopy, headache/migraine and gastrointestinal symptoms, our findings suggest key differences exist between the two diagnoses, suggesting that hEDS and HSD may be distinct conditions.