What is Marfan syndrome?
A person with Marfan syndrome has an inherited illness that results in abnormal connective tissue. Connective tissue provides support for many organs, and connects parts of the body together. Marfan syndrome affects the heart, blood vessels, bones, tendons, cartilage, eyes, nervous system and lungs. Marfan syndrome is a genetic disease with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. The life expectancy for someone with Marfan syndrome is 70 years.

What are the symptoms of Marfan syndrome?
Physical changes in someone with Marfan syndrome include long limbs, eye abnormalities, and abnormally flexible joints. A person with Marfan syndrome may also have symptoms of mitral valve prolapse.

How does the doctor treat Marfan syndrome?
There is no cure for Marfan syndrome. Severe dilation of the aorta may result in a dissecting thoracic aneurysm, which is life threatening.