Overview Marfan's Syndrome is one of the most common inherited disorders of connective tissue. Marfan syndrome is a hereditary disease affecting connective tissues in the body, resulting in symptoms such as aortic dissection and musculoskeletal deformities. However, no family history of Marfan's does not exclude the diagnosis as 30% can occur through gene mutation.

• Family history of Marfan syndrome
• Family history of aortic dissection or aneurysm
• High parental age (Weak)

Signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome varies among patients, they are not generally not presented at birth and develops overtime with age. For presentations at birth, it is regarded to as neonatal Marfan syndrome.

• Body habitus / musculoskeletal
  • High stature, wide arm span - Marfanoid body habitus
  • Chest deformity
    • Pectus excavatum (Funnel chest)
    • Pectus carinatum (Pigeons chest)
  • Arachnodactyly (Long and thin digits)
  • Scoliosis
  • Joint hypermobility
  • High arched palate
  • Flat feet (pes planus)
• Cardiopulmonary
  • Aorta dilatation - causing aortic valve insufficiency
  • Aortic aneurysm
  • Aortic dissection
  • Mitral valve regurgitation
  • Cystic medial necrosis (tunica media necrosis of the aorta)
  • Pneumothorax due to lung bullae upper lobes
• Ophthalmology
  • Ectopia lentis
  • Dislocated/subluxed lens
  • Myopia with astigmatism (blurred vision as a result of irregularly shaped cornea or lens)

<20 years old

• Potential Marfans Syndrome

>20 years old

• MASS - Myopia, Mitral valve prolapse, Aortic root dilatation, Aortic aneurysm syndrome, Striae, Skeletal
• Loeys Dietz syndrome
  • Hypertelorism, cleft palate/bifid uvula, arterial totuosity, aneurysm and dissection
• Ectopia lentis syndrome
• Ehlers Danlos syndrome (vascular type)
• Marfanoid hypermobility syndrome

• Echocardiogram
• Chest X-ray
• CT scan of thorax
• Fibrillin 1 mutation testing
• Slit lamp eye examination
• Ultrasound of abdomen

Ghent Diagnosis (simplified)

Absence of family history

• Aortic root dilatation + Ectopia lentis
• Aortic root dilatation + FBN1 gene mutation
• Aortic root dilatation + systemic score >7points

Presence of family history

• Family history + ectopia lentis
• Family history + systemic score >7points
• Family history + aortic root dilatation

Fibrillin 1 (FBN1) gene mutation, located on chromosome 15

• 75% - Inherited the mutated FBN1 gene from one or both parents, autosomal dominant
• 25% Sporadic, FBN1 gene underwent mutation in parent germ cells

The fibrillin 1 gene is crucial in the production of fibrillin, a glycoprotein which stabilises crosslinks of microfibril tissues found in connective tissues, such as arteries and skin. Fibrillin either bind microfibril strands to form non-stretchable tissues (such as tendons), or binds microfibril strands with elastin to form elastic fibres (such as arteries). It also sequesters transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B), and promotes connective tissue growth.

With the deformed or deficiency in fibrillin proteins due to the gene mutation, connective tissues loss mechanical integrity.

Cardiovascular
In the aorta, the lost of integrity in elastic connective tissue causes necrosis of the tunica media, resulting in aortic dilation, which in turns causes aortic valve insufficiency and heart
failure. There is also increased risk of aneurysm formation and dissection of the aorta, causing mortality related to Marfan syndrome.

Musculoskeletal
Marfanoid body habitus, scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and arthropathy are common symptoms present in Marfan syndrome. Since less fibrillin is present for sequestering the TGF-B, there is a overabundance of such substances in the systemic circulation, therefore other tissues such as epiphyseal plate responds to the constant stimulation of TGF-B, resulting in over-production of long bones.

Opthalmopathy
Increased risk of lens dislocation and retinal detachment due to insufficient connective tissue integrity.

Dermatological 
Striae may be seen due to loosening of connective tissues in the dermal layer.

Lungs
Possible bulla formation in the lungs due to lack of mechanical integrity in lung elastic tissues increases risk of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Treatment of Marfan syndrome is based on symptoms management and improvement of overall life quality of the patient. Each system affected by the FBN1 gene mutation can be
treated separatly.

• Cardiovascular
  • Beta blocker
  • Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
  • Prophylaxis for endocarditis and anticoagulants for high risk procedures or surgeries
  • Surgical treatment in cfor symptomatic aortic pathology
• Opthalmopathy - surgical for cataracts, myopia, retinal detachment
• Musculoskeletal
  • Scoliosis/kyphoscoliosis : Orthopaedic bracing or surgery
  • Pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum affecting cardiorespiratory system: Surgery
  • Arthropathy: Physiotherapy, analgesics, surgery

Complications

• Cardiovascular
  • Aortic dilation
  • Acute aortic dissection/rupture
  • Chronic aortic dissection
  • Symptomatic aortic regurgitation
  • Heart failure
  • Infective endocarditis
• Respiratory
  • Spontaneous pneumothorax
• Abdominal
  • Symptomatic inguinal/incisional/abdominal hernia

Prognosis

• With appropriate medical and surgical intervention addressing the symptoms and complications of Marfan syndrome, the long term survival rate of most patients are good, most patients can live a normal lifespan with reasonable quality of life.
• Survival rate is significantly reduced by presentation of aortic dissection even with effective treatment.

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