Bone density in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is the most common inherited disorder of conne ctive tissue recognized. The objectives of the present study were to determ ine bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone metabolism i n EDS. Twenty-three subjects with Type III EDS and 23 matched controls unde rwent BMD measurement by dual-Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumb ar spine and femoral neck. Health history questionnaires and biochemical ma rkers of bone and connective tissue metabolism were also assessed. No signi ficant differences in BMD at the lumbar spine or differences in biochemical markers of bone and connective tissue metabolism were found between EDS su bjects and controls. EDS subjects had a significantly decreased BMD at the femoral neck compared with controls, but this difference disappeared after adjustment for body height, weight and physical activity levels.