Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States
Published on: April 1, 2015
[Bruising: a coagulation disorder, abuse or abnormality of the vessel wall?]
Insights
This case study highlights a boy with easy bruising due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a collagen disorder affecting blood vessels. The condition caused subcutaneous bleeding despite normal clotting factors and platelets.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Genetics
- Dermatology
Background:
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders.
- Abnormalities in collagen synthesis or processing lead to tissue fragility.
- Easy bruising can be a presenting symptom in pediatric cases.
Observation:
- A 7-month-old boy presented with a history of easy bruising.
- Comprehensive laboratory tests ruled out coagulopathies and thrombocytopenia.
- Physical examination findings were suggestive of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Findings:
- The patient's subcutaneous bleedings were attributed to underlying collagen abnormalities within the vessel walls.
- This presentation underscores the vascular manifestations of certain EDS types.
- Diagnosis was established clinically, supported by the characteristic bleeding pattern.
Implications:
- Early recognition of bruising in infants is crucial for diagnosing connective tissue disorders.
- Understanding collagen's role in vascular integrity is vital for managing EDS.
- This case emphasizes the importance of considering EDS in pediatric patients with unexplained bleeding.
Abstract:
The case history is presented of a boy with easy bruising from the age of 7 months. There were neither abnormalities of clotting factors and platelets, nor child abuse. Physical examination suggested the diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The subcutaneous bleedings are caused by collagen abnormalities in the vessel wall.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Introduction to Hemostasis
The three phases of hemostasis involve many clotting factors present in plasma and several substances released by platelets and injured tissue cells. It is a fast, localized, and...
Coagulation
During the coagulation phase, clotting factors, or procoagulants, play a vital role in initiating and progressing the coagulation cascade. This cascade is a series of reactions...
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which forms a...
Disorders of Hemostasis
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction

