High Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Disorders in a Large Cohort of Patients with Joint Hypermobility

Overview

Journal J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr

Publisher Wiley

Date 2024 May 15

PMID 38747032

Authors

Vibha Sood

Ajay Kaul

Khalil I El-Chammas

Vincent A Mukkada

Qin Sun

Lin Fei

Neha R Santucci

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in children with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/joint hypermobility syndrome (hEDS/JHS) are not well described. We investigated the prevalence of GI disorders in children and young adults with hEDS/JHS through a single-center retrospective review. Demographic data, clinical history, symptoms, and diagnostic studies were reviewed. Of 435 patients with hEDS/JHS, 66% were females (age 5-28 years). We noted a high prevalence of constipation (61%), dysphagia (32%), dyspepsia and/or gastroparesis (25%), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) (21%), and celiac disease (4%) in our cohort. Upper endoscopy and gastric emptying scans had the highest yield to detect abnormalities. Motility studies were abnormal in 31% of the 80 patients who underwent them. Dysphagia symptoms are significantly associated with EoE. Thirty-three percent of dysphagia patients had EoE, versus 16% of non-dysphagia patients (p < 0.001). Screening hEDS/JHS patients for GI issues should be routine, with further investigations and referrals guided by identified symptoms.

Citing Articles

Suspected Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Complex Pathophysiology in Fatal Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Insights from a Case Report and Post-Mortem Findings.

Shirvani A, Shirvani P, Jonah U, Moore B, Holick M Biomedicines. 2025; 13(2).

PMID: 40002882 PMC: 11852713. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13020469.

Liquid and solid gastric emptying and correlation with clinical characteristics in pediatric patients with dyspepsia.

Santucci N, Corsiglia J, El-Chammas K, Shumeiko O, Liu C, Kaul A Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2023; 36(1):e14701.

PMID: 37926966 PMC: 10843701. DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14701.

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