What are the red flags for Marfan syndrome?

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 deformity), dislocation of the lenses of the eyes (ectopia lentis), nearsightedness (myopia), widening (aneurysm) and tear (dissection) ...

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on rarediseases.org

What are the most serious symptoms of Marfan syndrome?

Symptoms may include:
  • Highly arched mouth that can lead to crowding of teeth.
  • Loose joints.
  • Long, narrow face.
  • Low back pain and numbness in the legs.
  • Shortness of breath due to changes in the lungs or heart.
  • Stretch marks on the skin.
  • Vision changes, such as blurry vision and extreme nearsightedness.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on niams.nih.gov

What are the tell tale signs of Marfan syndrome?

Marfan syndrome features may include:
  • Tall and slender build.
  • Disproportionately long arms, legs and fingers.
  • A breastbone that protrudes outward or dips inward.
  • A high, arched palate and crowded teeth.
  • Heart murmurs.
  • Extreme nearsightedness.
  • An abnormally curved spine.
  • Flat feet.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org

When should you suspect Marfan syndrome?

Tall and thin body build. Arms, legs, fingers and toes that may seem too long for the rest of your body. Curved spine. Scoliosis affects 60% of people with Marfan syndrome.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on my.clevelandclinic.org

What is the biggest concern for someone living with Marfan syndrome?

If you have Marfan syndrome, you are at risk for a life-threatening problem in an important blood vessel in your chest called the aorta. If your aorta is weaker or larger than normal, it is important to know symptoms of a dissection, or rupture.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhlbi.nih.gov

Marfan Syndrome - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

33 related questions found

What should people with Marfan syndrome avoid?

For people with Marfan syndrome active sports such as track, basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, and strenuous activities such as heavy lifting should be avoided because they cause additional heart strain.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orthop.washington.edu

Does Marfan syndrome affect personality?

Children and young people may also display some behavioural and emotional problems and low self-esteem. They may suffer bullying or teasing at school if they have strong Marfanoid characteristics. They may additionally internalise their worries, resulting in withdrawal, physical complaints, anxiety and depression.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on marfantrust.org

Can you have a mild case of Marfan syndrome?

Some people are only mildly affected by Marfan syndrome, while others develop more serious symptoms.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk

What are 5 facial features of Marfan syndrome?

Individuals with Marfan syndrome may have several distinct facial features including a long, narrow skull (dolichocephaly), deep-set eyes (enophthalmos), an abnormally small jaw (micrognathia) that may be recessed farther back than normal (retrognathia), abnormally flat cheek bones (malar hypoplasia), and an abnormal ...

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on rarediseases.org

How tall is the average person with Marfan syndrome?

Interestingly, the final height of males with MFS is almost identical in different countries: 191.2±8.4 cm in France, 191.4±5.2 cm in Korea (9), and 191.3±9.0 cm (8) in the United States. This is true despite the difference in men's final height in each general population (174.4 vs.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nature.com

What are the two primary features of Marfan syndrome?

The two primary features of Marfan syndrome are vision problems caused by a dislocated lens (ectopia lentis ) in one or both eyes and defects in the large blood vessel that distributes blood from the heart to the rest of the body (the aorta ).

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medlineplus.gov

Can you gain weight with Marfan syndrome?

Many people with Marfan syndrome have difficulty gaining weight, especially when they are younger, no matter how much they eat and how many protein shakes they consume.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on marfan.org

What happens if Marfan syndrome goes undiagnosed?

The most life threatening complication of Marfan syndrome is aortic aneurysm which can lead to aortic dissection, rupture or both.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What does a person with Marfan syndrome look like?

Finally, Marfan syndrome may lead to curvature of the spine, an abnormally shaped chest that sinks in or sticks out, long arms, legs and fingers, flexible joints and flat feet. Because of this, people with the condition are typically taller and thinner in stature.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hopkinsmedicine.org

What are the bowel problems with Marfan syndrome?

More Marfan patients reported abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and constipation than controls; however, only symptom of abdominal pain was thought to be statistically significant.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How do you rule out Marfan syndrome?

Genetic testing is often used to confirm the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome. If a Marfan mutation is found, family members can be tested to see if they are also affected.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org

Does Marfan syndrome get worse with age?

While most cases of Marfan syndrome are inherited, some are due to a spontaneous change in a gene, with no family history. Marfan syndrome can be mild to severe, and may become worse with age, depending on which area is affected and to what degree.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on betterhealth.vic.gov.au

What celebrities have Marfan syndrome?

Abraham Lincoln is the most famous American who had Marfan syndrome. So did Julius Caesar and Tutankhamen. In more recent times, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, basketball prospect Isaiah Austin and, perhaps, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had Marfan syndrome.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hartfordhealthcare.org

Does Marfan syndrome affect teeth?

Many people with Marfan syndrome and some related disorders have narrow jaws and high-arched palates, which can create dental and orthodontic problems.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on marfan.org

How common is Marfan syndrome in Australia?

Signs and Symptoms

Marfan syndrome affects approximately 1 in 5,000 people, and includes men and women of all ethnic groups. The signs and symptoms manifests differently between individuals, and can take many years to develop. Some features include tall stature, long fingers, flexible joints, or high arched palates.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on andriestroebel.com.au

Can a blood test detect Marfan syndrome?

If your doctor strongly suspects Marfan syndrome, a 29-gene genetic test is performed to look for mutations associated with Marfan syndrome and other genetic conditions that affect the body in a similar way. Genetic testing is done with an at-home saliva test kit or an in-office blood test.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nyulangone.org

What arm length is Marfan syndrome?

Typically, a person's arm span should be less than their body height; an increased arm span to body height ratio of >1.05 is considered a positive sign for Marfan syndrome.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on physio-pedia.com

What psychological issues does Marfan syndrome have?

Other studies have indicated a possible relationship between fatigue and chronic pain for individuals with MFS. In addition, some MFS patients also have psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Are people with Marfan syndrome smart?

Some Marfan features – for example, aortic enlargement (expansion of the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body) – can be life-threatening. The lungs, skin, and nervous system may also be affected. Marfan syndrome does not affect intelligence.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on marfan.org

Does Marfan syndrome affect IQ?

We evaluated the neurodevelopmental status and cognitive ability of 30 school-age children with Marfan syndrome. We found average intellectual (mean full scale IQ = 109.3) and gross motor development.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on onlinelibrary.wiley.com