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Rheumatology
Joint Hypermobility Syndrome

Professor Jaime F. Bravo , MD

Joint Hypermobility for Physicians

What does Hypermobility mean

Joint Hypermobility without symptoms, is a good condition to have and permits people to do well in the performing arts.

Joint Hypermobility with symptoms,  constitutes a disease, the Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility Syndrome, also known as EDS type III or Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS).

Joint hypermobility indicates the presence of a genetic alteration of the collagen matrix of most tissues. These may distend giving sprains, subluxations, arthralgias (joint pains); may dilate, producing varicose veins, aneurisms, dysautonomia, cysts; may rupture, producing hernias; may wear and tear, giving early osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

The most common  Hereditary Alterations of the Collagen Diseases  are:

A.-  Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

B.-  Marfan Syndrome (MFS).

C.-  Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)

What are the Hereditary Diseases of the Connective Tissues

HDCTs are diseases that can affect multiple organs and are due to alteration of the collagen (a ´protein) caused by a genetic mutation, that can be hereditary or due to a “the novo mutation”(new mutation). Alteration of Collagen 1 (COL1A or 2) gives OI. Problems with Collagen II (COL2A) produces cartilage diseases and dysplasia’s. Alteration of collagen III can give EDSH or VEDS (COL3A1 or 2).   Disorders of  Collagen  V  (COL5A1)   produces EDS I-II. Alteration of Fibrillin or Elastine can cause MFS.

 

"DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA OF THE

EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROMES

ACCORDING TO THE 1997 VILLEFRANCHE REVISED NOSOLOGY"

 

 

 

 

A.-  Ehlers – Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

The initial 10 types have been reduced to 6:

  1. Classic EDS (CEDS). Formerly EDS type I-II
  2. EDS Hypermobility (EDSH). Formerly EDS type III or JHS
  3. Vascular EDS (VEDS). Formerly EDS type IV
  4. EDS Kyphoscoliosis. Formerly EDS type VI
  5. EDS Arthrochalasia. Formerly EDS type VII a
  6. EDS Dermatosparaxis. Formerly EDS type VII b, c

1.-  Classic Ehlers-Danlos  (CEDS)

CEDS is one of the types of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome  that  includes former EDS types I and II, very similar to EDSH, but characterized by extreme hypermobility, frequent subluxations and severe skin fragility. It is due to alteration of Collagen type V (mutation of the gene COL5A1) and has Dominant Autosomal inheritance. It is less frequent than EDS-III. The Classic form was the only one we knew years ago, pictures showing marked laxity of the skin of the face.

2.- Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility Syndrome (EDSH). EDS type III or Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS).

Preferable should be called EDSH. It is one of the HDCT and is due to alteration of Collagen type III. The exact gene alteration is unknown, but it has been related to partial deficiency of Tenascin-X. It has Dominant Autosomic inheritance. It appears to be a forme fruste of the classic HDCT, since it has similar symptoms and signs of all of them, but with a lesser degree of severity. It is extremely frequent (40% of the Chilean population, as well as in the UK and probably in most countries if looked for), but usually not diagnosed.

EDS Hypermobile symptoms

a)  Skeletal symptoms:

Frequent arthralgias, myalgias (at times similar to Fibromyalgia), recurrent tendinitis, bursitis, sprains, subluxations of joints, back pain, early osteoarthritis and early osteoporosis.

 b)  Extra skeletal symptoms:

    • Skin abnormalities, myopia, hernias, varicose veins, rectal prolapse, gastrointestinal reflux, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
    • Neuro-physiological defects:
    • Proprioceptive impairment.
    • Enhanced pain perception.
    • Resistance to local anaesthetics.
    • Autonomic dysfunction: (Dysautonomia, Xeroftalmia and Xerostomia).
    • Genetic link to depression, anxiety, panic crisis and phobias (Bulbena).

Ref. Bravo JF, Wolff C. Arthritis & Rheumatism Feb. 2006.
n = number of patients or controls.

Ref. Bravo JF, Wolff C. Arthritis & Rheumatism Feb. 2006.
n = number of patients or controls.

How to measure Joint Hypermobility

The Beighton score (Bsc), has been used for more than 30 years. At present there is discussion which cut off point to use, usually 4/9 in adults and 3/9in children.

How to diagnose EDS-III.

The Brighton criteria (BC), includes de Bsc. When the BC is positive is indicative of EDSH, unless there is an exclusion.

      Clinical study of hereditary disorders of connective tissues in a Chilean population.

      Joint hypermobility syndrome and  vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
                      Jaime F. Bravo, Carlos Wolff, Arthritis Rheum Vol.54, No 2, February 2006, pp 515-523

 

        How to Suspect EDS-III Patients. Visual Aids, Poster presented in Paris, France, March 2016

3.- Vascular EDS (VEDS).   Formerly EDS type IV

VEDS is also one of the HDCT and is due to alteration of Collagen type III. The altered gene is the COL3A1. It has worse  prognosis than EDSH, since it can produce arterial ruptures as well as organ ruptures (lung, arteries, colon, uterus). It can   produce arrhythmias and even sudden death. Has Autosomal Dominant inheritance (half of the children will inherit it). Its frequency is now thought to be 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 people.

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos criteria. The Villefranche criteria.

a)    Biochemical confirmation. Fibroblast culture from a skin biopsy, followed by gel protein electrophoresis  that detects abnormal molecules of the  procollagen type III (DNA). Detects mutations in the sequence of the code.

b)   Diagnostic confirmation by Molecular Genetics.  Detects abnormal collagen type III due to mutations of the gene COL 3A1, which is found in   chromosome 2, locus 31 or 32.

These tests have to be sent to specialized centers, such as Peter Byers MD, in Seattle, Washington.

4.- Kyphoscoliosis type EDS.    Formerly EDS type VI.

 

5.-Arthrochalasia type EDS.     Formerly included in EDS type VII (VII a).

 

6.-Dermatosparaxis type EDS.   Formerly included in EDS type VII (VII b, c).

B.- Marfan Syndrome (MFS) 

MFS is another of the HDCTs, it is due to a genetic alteration of Fibrillin and Elastine. The altered gene is located in Chromosome 15 Locus 21. It is characterized by Marfanoid habitus with an arm span greater than the height. It is usually associated to dilatation or rupture of the aorta, Ectopia Lentis and Osteoporosis. Has Autosomic Dominant inheritance and affects 1 in about 12,000 people.

C.-  Osteogenesis Imperfecta  (OI)

OI is another of the HDCTs, it is due to an alteration of Collagen type I (COL1A or 2) and is characterized by blue sclerae and marked fracture tendency due to osteoporosis. Fractures can occur even in utero. It has usually Autosomic Dominant and occasionally Autosomic Recessive inheritance. Affects 1 in 20,000 born alive children and 1 in 100,000 adults. There are 5 types as noted in the “Sillence classification”.

  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta  photos.
  • Sillence classification.
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