Marfan Syndrome
By: Ashlee Donahoo 5th
Causes
Symptoms/Characteristics
Signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome are different for everyone. Sometimes they appear when a child is very young, or they may not show up until later in life as a teenager or an adult.
Someone with Marfan Syndrome often:
- Is very tall and thin
- Has loose, flexible joints
- Has long arms, legs, fingers and toes
- Has flat feet
- Has a long, narrow face
- Has teeth that are too crowded
- Has a high roof of the mouth
Treatment
Medications
Doctors often prescribe blood pressure lowering drugs to help prevent the aorta from enlarging and to reduce the risk of dissection and rupture. The most commonly used drugs are beta blockers, which cause their heart to beat more slowly and with less force. Other blood pressure drugs, such as losartan (Cozaar), also show promise
Therapy
A dislocated lens in their eye can be treated effectively with glasses or contact lenses that refract around or through the lens. Surgery to replace the lens also may be an option.
Surgical and other procedures
Depending upon their signs and symptoms, procedures might include:
- Aorta repair. If their aorta's diameter enlarges quickly or reaches a dangerous size — usually around 2 inches (5 centimeters) — their doctor may recommend an operation to replace a portion of their aorta with a tube made of synthetic material. This can help prevent a life-threatening rupture. Their aortic valve may need to be replaced as well.
- Scoliosis treatment. For some children and adolescents, doctors recommend a custom-made back brace, which is worn nearly continuously until growth is complete. If the curve in the child's spine is too great, the doctor may suggest surgery to straighten the spine.
- Breastbone corrections. If a sunken breastbone affects the child's breathing, surgery to repair the deformity may be an option, and insurance is likely to cover it. A protruding breastbone usually doesn't cause functional problems, but it may be a cosmetic concern — which may mean insurance won't cover it.
- Eye surgeries. If parts of their retina have torn or come loose from the back of their eye, surgical repair is usually successful. If they have cataracts, their clouded lens can be replaced with an artificial lens.
Life Expectancy
3 Interesting Facts Involving Marfan Syndrome
- Abraham Lincoln suffered from Marfan Syndrome.
- Pulling a tooth from someone with Marfan Syndrome can kill them.
- February is Marfan Syndrome's awareness month.