Symptoms of Marfan syndrome may be mild or severe, and may be present at birth or appear in childhood or in adult life. Marfan syndrome affects about 1 in 5,000 Americans. The disorder affects males and females from all racial and ethnic groups. Affected individuals often are tall, slender and loose-jointed. Arms and legs may be unusually long in proportion to the torso.
Feet often are flat.
The face may be long and narrow, with a high roof of the mouth and crowded teeth. Blood pumped from the heart passes forcefully and directly into the aorta, which branches out to carry oxygen-rich blood to the entire body. Sudden, large splits can result in death. Heart valves are pairs or trios of flaps that keep the blood flowing in one direction through the heart. In individuals with Marfan syndrome, these valves tend to be oversized and floppy.