It is now speculated that Abram Lincoln was also a victim of the disorder. Today it is estimated that this disorder is a part of over 40,000 Americans' lives. With the development of new technologies and surgical techniques, life expectancy has increased more than twenty-five percent since 1972. Marfan Syndrome also affects the ocular and cardiovascular systems. The cardiovascular system is the most effected system and complications with it are often the cause of premature death from this disorder.
Immediate life threatening complications are aneurysm of the aorta and aortic dissection.
Because of the disformed palate, sleep apnea is another disorder often associated with Marfan Syndrome. This disorder has variable inheritance with the exception that complete nonpeneterance has not been documented. It is autosomal dominant heterozygous. A minute number of cases are speculated to be autosomal recessive. Marfan Syndrome is not sex-linked.