Vol. 501 No. 3
97 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the facilities which exist in Ireland for the diagnosis and treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Hypermobility syndrome; the number of patients who suffer from these conditions; the research, if any, being undertaken on these syndromes; the hospitals which provide treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5787/99]
Ehlers-Danlos and Hypermobility syndromes are a heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders characterised by articular hypermobility, skin extensibility and tissue fragility. These conditions affect many parts of the body including the skin, joints, blood vessels, heart and bones. Patients with these conditions may require attention from various specialists including paediatricians, general physicians, dermatologists, cardiologists, geneticists, rheumatologists, orthopaedic and other surgeons.
Treatment for patients with such syndromes is dependant on their individual needs and may be provided by a wide range of consultants. In some instances the identification of such syndromes is part of a secondary diagnosis or condition and treatment for such patients is centred around their primary condition. It is therefore difficult to privide a precise number of patients who suffer from these syndromes.
The hospital inpatient inquiry system in my Department records information on hospitalisation in all acute publicly funded hospitals. The most recent year for which data is complete is 1997 and this indicates 18 hospital discharges recording a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and 171 discharges recording a diagnosis of Hypermobility syndrome. These patients were seen in hospitals throughout the country. It should be noted that if patients are admitted more than once in a given year for some condition, each attendance will be counted separately in HIPE.
There is no research being undertaken in this country into these disorders but I have been informed by the National Centre for Medical Genetics that research into these disorders is being undertaken in Canada and Wales.
