Terrence+Hogan

Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder which causes the genetic tissue to be weaker than the normal tissue. This tissue helps control the body's growth. As a result, people with Marfan syndrome tend to be unusually tall, with long arms and long legs. A person with Marfan Syndrome can also have problems with their skin, eyes, blood vessels, and bones.
 * Description:**


 * Symptoms:**
 * Long arms, legs, fingers, and toes compared to the rest of their body
 * Nearsightedness, Glaucoma, Cataracts
 * Curved spine
 * Aortic toot dilation

It is easier to tell if one has Marfan syndrome as one gets older/develops. There usually aren't signs of Marfan syndrome until someone is a teenager or adult. Diagnosis is made through a clinical evaluation because there isn't a specific test to determine if someone has Marfan syndrome. These evaluations can include an eye exam, a heart test to measure the size of the aorta, a measurement of one's arm and leg length compared to one's body, an examination of the spine (scoliosis), and an evaluation of family history.
 * Diagnosis:**

There is no cure for Marfan syndrome. However, there are treatments to lessen the problems. Most people with Marfan syndrome wear glasses or contacts to help their vision problems. Also to correct heart problems associated with Marfan syndrome, many people with Marfan syndrome have heart surgery or take beta blockers to slow down their heartbeat and to keep their aorta from enlarging.
 * Treatments:**


 * Side Effects to Disease/Treatments:**
 * Heart Problems- Marfan syndrome is often associated with a weak aorta and an uneven heart rate.
 * Lung Problems- The Lung problems of Marfan syndrome can include a collapsed lung and asthma.
 * Eye Problems- Around half the people with Marfan syndrome have some sort of eye problem. Some of these problems are nearsightedness, glaucoma, and cataracts.
 * Skeleton Abnormalities- People tend to be very tall and very skinny. Also, they have long arms, legs, fingers, and toes compared to the rest of their body.
 * Beta Blockers- Beta Blocker medicine that helps the aorta can result in tiredness and nausea.

Currently, there is not a way to prevent Marfan syndrome. However, if it is diagnosed at a young age, treatments can be provided to lessen the problems. If Marfan syndrome is not treated the person usually doesn’t live over 40 years.
 * Prevention Control:**

People with Marfan syndrome have a defect in the fibrillin 1 gene on chromosome 15. Marfan syndrome is inherited by an autosomal dominant pattern. This means that a parent with Marfan syndrome has a 50% chance at passing it on to their child. Around 75% of people with Marfan syndrome have a parent with Marfan syndrome. The other 25% get it randomly even if they have never had a family member with the disease.
 * Chromosome:**
 * Inheritance:**

Marfan syndrome can affect anyone. Marfan syndrome is more common in people that have a family history of Marfan syndrome. About 1 out of 5000-7000 babies are affected with Marfan syndrome.
 * Predisposition:**

Works Cited "Birth Defects." //Marfan SyndromeÂ |Â BabyÂ |Â Â |Â March of Dimes //. March of Dimes, Jan. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. .

"Marfan Syndrome Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment on MedicineNet.com." //MedicineNet //. MedicineNet, 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. .

"Marfan Syndrome Symptoms, Causes, Treatments." //WebMD //. WebMD, 01 Jan. 0000. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.  .

"Marfan Syndrome." //Marfan Syndrome //. Cleveland Clinic, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;"><http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/aorta_marfan/marfan.aspx>.