Ehlers Danlos Type II And Recurring Bouts Of Pancreatitis- A Literature Review And Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of inheritable disorders that results in decreased connective tissue function and assembly that can have a myriad of symptoms and multisystem involvement. Currently, there are five characterized types of Ehlers Danlos syndromes, each corresponding to various gene mutations, with respective collagen deficits and symptoms. Although commonly known to be associated with severe fatigue, hypermobile joints, elastic skin, easy bruising and bleeding tendencies and aortic dissections, not much has been fully characterized about gastrointestinal syndromes in Ehlers Danlos patients. In this case report, we discuss a patient case presenting with a family and personal history of Ehlers Danlos and multiple bouts of pancreatitis. Few other case have been reported showing the association of chronic pancreatitis in patients with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, and this case report serves to add an additional incidence of such association, potentially indicating another avenue of preventative medicine for Ehlers-Danlos patients.Case report: A 30-year-old male with past medical history of EDS type II, and recurrent pancreatitis on pancreas presented to our ER with severe nausea, vomiting, fever and epigastric pain radiating to the back. He denied any recent alcohol use, hyperlipidemia or known history of gallstones. He complained of severe pain in the epigastric region that radiated to the back; severe epigastric tenderness noted on the physical exam. elevated lipase level of 138 IU/L (normal is <82IU/L) was found. Computed tomography of