Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or VEDS, is a genetic aortic and vascular condition that affects the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue holds all the body’s cells, organs, and tissues together and plays an important role in helping the body grow and develop properly.
Connective tissue is made up of proteins. VEDS is caused by changes in the gene called COL3A1. People with VEDS are born with the condition. These changes create the features and medical problems associated with VEDS.
VEDS can affect many different parts of the body, including the arteries, hollow organs, skin, and lungs. These systems can be prone to tears, which can be life-threatening.
Although VEDS is quite variable, people are often diagnosed when they have easy and frequent bruising that is not explained by other causes and spontaneous bowel and arterial tears or ruptures. Some people have characteristic facial features, thin skin, and tissue fragility.
What Everyone Should Know About VEDS
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