Radiographic Identification of Visceroptosis in Patients With Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome With Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms Compared With Healthy Subjects.

INTRODUCTION

Visceroptosis is a potential cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).

METHODS

We systematically examined the prolapse of abdominal organs below their natural supine position (visceroptosis) during the upright small bowel barium study in healthy and hEDS subjects with irritable bowel syndrome.

RESULTS

Comparison of age- and sex-matched healthy (n = 20) and hEDS (n = 10) subjects did not show any significant difference in dynamic movement of the viscera. Subgroup analysis did not demonstrate any correlation between the degree of prolapse, clinical symptoms, and hypermobility clinical (Beighton) scores. The interobserver reliability for 3 of the 4 anatomic landmarks showed "moderate" or "good" correlation based on their interclass correlation coefficients.

DISCUSSION: Patients with hEDS do not appear to have a significantly increased incidence of visceroptosis.