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Marfan Syndrome
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Marfan Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- MFS
Disorder Subdivisions
- Marfan syndrome type I
- Marfan syndrome type II
General Discussion
Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue, which is the material between cells of the body that gives the tissues form and strength. Connective tissue is found all over the body and multiple organ systems may be affected in individuals with Marfan syndrome. The heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular), skeletal, and eye (ocular) systems are most often affected. Major symptoms include overgrowth of the long bones of the arms and legs, abnormal side-to-side curvature of the spine (scoliosis), indentation or protrusion of the chest wall (pectus), dislocation of the lenses of the eyes (ectopia lentis), nearsightedness (myopia), widening (aneurysm) and tear (dissection) of the main artery that carries blood away from the heart (aorta), floppiness of the mitral valve (mitral valve prolapse) and backward flow of blood through the aortic and mitral valves (aortic and mitral regurgitation). The specific symptoms and the severity of Marfan syndrome vary greatly from case to case. Marfan syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Defects or disruptions (mutations) of the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene have been linked to Marfan syndrome and related disorders.
Resources
National Scoliosis Foundation
5 Cabot Place
Stoughton, MA 02072
Tel: (781)341-8333
Fax: (781)341-8333
Tel: (800)673-6922
Email: nsf@scoliosis.org
Internet: http://www.scoliosis.org
National Marfan Foundation
22 Manhasset Avenue
Port Washington, NY 11050
Tel: (516)883-8712
Fax: (516)883-8040
Tel: (800)862-7326
Email: staff@marfan.org
Internet: http://www.marfan.org
American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231
Tel: (214)784-7212
Fax: (214)784-1307
Tel: (800)242-8721
Email: Review.personal.info@heart.org
Internet: http://www.heart.org
NIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Information Clearinghouse
One AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
USA
Tel: (301)495-4484
Fax: (301)718-6366
Tel: (877)226-4267
TDD: (301)565-2966
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Coalition for Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue (CHDCT)
4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 404
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202)362-9599
Fax: (202)966-8553
Tel: (800)778-7171
Email: chdct@pxe.org
Internet: http://www.chdct2.org/
Canadian Marfan Association
Centre Plaza Postal Outlet
128 Queen Street South
P.O. Box 42257
Mississauga
Ontario, L5M 4Z0
Canada
Tel: 9058263223
Fax: 9058262125
Tel: 8667221722
Email: info@marfan.ca
Internet: http://www.marfan.ca
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation of Smiles
2044 Michael Ave SW
Wyoming, MI 49509
Tel: (616)329-1335
Email: Rachelmancuso09@comcast.net
Internet: http://www.cleftsmile.org
For a Complete Report:
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 6/8/2011
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