How are individuals with Marfan syndrome affected?
Many affected individuals are tall, slender and loose-jointed. Arms, legs, fingers and toes often are unusually long. Some people with Marfan syndrome have low foot arches (flat feet), and others have high arches. Individuals with Marfan syndrome usually have long, narrow faces, and their teeth are generally crowded. Individuals with Marfan syndrome can have one or more of the problems described below. The severity of the effects of Marfan syndrome varies greatly, even within the same family. • Heart and blood vessel problems: The most serious problem associated with Marfan syndrome is weakness of the wall of the aorta. The aorta is the body’s largest artery, which carries oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body. In Marfan syndrome, the wall of the aorta gradually weakens and stretches (aortic dilation). Eventually, this can cause a tear (dissection) in the lining of the aorta. Blood can leak out through the tear into the aortic wall, sometimes causing
