Marfan Syndrome
Alternate Names : Neonatal Marfan Syndrome, Congenital Marfan Syndrome, Infantile Marfan Syndrome
What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?
Marfan syndrome is present at birth but it sometimes doesn't show any signs until the
teen years. The condition can range from mild to very severe. Doctors can pick up the most severe cases
in infancy. These infants may have:
muscle weakness
long thin fingers
a long-shaped face
loose skin
problems with the lens of the eye
abnormal heart valves
the place where the aorta leaves the heart may be too wide. The aorta is the large blood vessel that
takes the blood from the heart to all parts of the body.
An older person with Marfan syndrome is often very tall with a long thin face. The arms, fingers,
and legs are longer than usual. They can be "double-jointed." The backbone may begin to curve. The whites
of the eyes may have a bluish tint. People with Marfan syndrome are often near-sighted. The lens of the eye
can become dislocated. There can also be serious problems with the heart valves and the blood vessels.
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