The Marfan syndrome is a heritable disorder of the connective tissue that affects many organ systems, including the skeleton, the lungs, the eyes and the heart and blood vessels. The condition can affect both men and women of any race or ethnic group. It is estimated theat 40,000 people in the Unicted states have the Marfan syndrome.
Connective tissue is formed from proteins which are made from our genetic information of genes.
Most of the time, the gene is inherited from a parent who is also affected. The genetic test for Marfan is available at some centers, but not routinely covered by insurance. Aside from the genetic test, which may be unavailable in some centers, the condition is diagnosed by a medical history and physical examination. A family medical history of Marfan syndrome is an important piece of information. Few symptoms may occur unless the heart , eyes or lung is involved.