Members of a three-generation family in France who suffer from widespread infections and fragile skin, joints, bones, and blood vessels share an underlying and unexpected immune system glitch, according to a new report in Science Immunology.
The grandmother died of septic shock at age 76. She had the same collection of problems that plague her 45-year-old daughter, and her 19-year-old granddaughter. They have two syndromes that aren't known to occur together:
"Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis" brings persistent infections with the yeast Candida albicans, in the vagina, skin folds, mouth (thrush), and other mucosal linings. All three women also suffer UTIs, ear-nose-and-throat infections, and bacterial skin infections.
Connective tissue disorders similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome include hypermobile joints; soft, velvety, super-stretchy skin; palm and sole blisters; stretch marks; slow wound healing; poor digestion; osteoporosis; and, most debilitating, chronic widespread pain. Abnormal connective tissue is dangerous, because blood vessels and organs such as the uterus and intestines can burst.
To continue reading go to DNA Science, where this post first appeared.