Marfan Sydrome

Marfan syndrome affects different people in different ways. Some people have only mild symptoms, while others are more severely affected. In most cases, the symptoms progress as the person ages. The body systems most often affected by Marfan syndrome are:

• Skeleton--People with Marfan syndrome are typically very tall, slender, and loose jointed. Since Marfan syndrome affects the long bones of the skeleton, arms, legs, fingers, and toes may be disproportionately long in relation to the rest of the body. A person with Marfan syndrome often has a long, narrow face, and the roof of the mouth may be arched, causing the teeth to be crowded. Other skeletal abnormalities include a sternum (breastbone) that is either protruding or indented, curvature of the spine (scoliosis), and flat feet.
• Eyes--More than half of all people with Marfan syndrome experience dislocation of one or both lenses of the eye. The lens may be slightly higher or lower than normal and may be shifted off to one side. The dislocation may be minimal, or it may be pronounced and obvious. Retinal detachment is a possible serious complication of this disorder. Many people with Marfan syndrome are also nearsighted (myopic), and some can develop early glaucoma (high pressure within the eye) or cataracts (the eye's lens loses its clearness).
• Heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular system)--Most people with Marfan syndrome have abnormalities associated with the heart and blood vessels. Because of faulty connective tissue, the wall of the aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body) may be weakened and stretch, a process called aortic dilatation. Aortic dilatation increases the risk that the aorta will tear (aortic dissection) or rupture, causing serious heart problems or sometimes sudden death. Sometimes, defects in heart valves can also cause problems. In some cases, certain valves may leak, creating a "heart murmur," which a doctor can hear with a stethoscope. Small leaks may not result in any symptoms, but larger ones may cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and palpitations (a very fast or irregular heart rate).
• Nervous system--The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by fluid contained by a membrane called the dura, which is composed of connective tissue. As people with Marfan syndrome get older, the dura often weakens and stretches, then begins to weigh on the vertebrae in the lower spine and wear away the bone surrounding the spinal cord. This is called dural ectasia. These changes may cause only mild discomfort or may lead to radiated pain in the abdomen or to pain, numbness, or weakness of the legs.
• Skin--Many people with Marfan syndrome develop stretch marks on their skin, even without any weight change. These stretch marks can occur at any age and pose no health risk. However, people with Marfan syndrome are also at increased risk for developing an abdominal or inguinal hernia where a bulge develops that contains part of the intestines.
• Lungs--Although connective tissue abnormalities make the tiny air sacs within the lungs less elastic, people with Marfan syndrome generally do not experience noticeable problems with their lungs. If, however, these tiny air sacs become stretched or swollen, the risk of lung collapse may increase. Rarely, people with Marfan syndrome may have sleep-related breathing disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea (a sleep disorder characterized by brief periods when breathing stops).

Marfan syndrome is a heritable condition that affects the connective tissue. The primary purpose of connective tissue is to hold the body together and provide a framework for growth and development. In Marfan syndrome, the connective tissue is defective and does not act as it should. Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, Marfan syndrome can affect many body systems, including the skeleton, eyes, heart and blood vessels, nervous system, skin, and lungs.

Marfan syndrome affects men, women, and children, and has been found among people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. It is estimated that at least 1 in 5,000 people in the United States have the disorder.

A connective tissue disease that effects fibrilim1.

It makes the person extremely tall, lanky, have a caved in chest, small lower jaw, fat feet and what is disrcibed as a spider like appearance.

Marfan syndrome is a disorder that effects the connective tissue of the human body. It also effects the skeletal system and cardiovascular system.
a condition which I have so I can explain it in depth.

It is very bad in many ways as it (sometimes) enlargens the aouta wich is one of the which branches to the heart meaning either too much or too littlee blood gets through and creates blockages this requires an oporation to put right which can kill you so to pospone the oporation certain heart tab;lets are given to the patient.

another more noticable thing particullarly in teanage boys carrying marphans syndrome will be tall and skinny at 13 I'm 6ft tall.

however we're very skinny and usually quiete weak and because the the heart problem not very athletic.

also some times it comes with other conditions which I'm not sure of the name of because marphans shrinks all the muscles sometimes we're left with little or no eye controll and head controll other limbs may also have this problem.

bones are weak my testimony my feet are the wrong shape I take hospital boots which are meant to shape them, we're trying splints I can't walk very far every step is like a maraton with two broken legs I feel like an old man.

I may not be able to walk after a while.

another thing I know first hand is that body building is a no no, not only can it hurt that's not the problem it's almost impossible for us to gain weight, and I worked out every day for 3 years 100 sit ups at least and never got a six pack or any muscle it just does'nt work.

we commonly have long flexible limbs many hopsital picture will show us doing things like wrapping our little finger around our wrist and touching it with the thumb also we're great contortionists, from 5 years old I could put my legs behind my head, now I slide my knea cap off of my knea and put my legs behind my heab then flip them right over and walk on them backwards.

it effects many people in many differant ways most people on here for questions like this should just google it sheck out the basic wikipedia for it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marfan_syndrome

I'm hoping that helped I probably forgot some things ancd lost track of what I'd already said so try the wiki bye