In Marfan syndrome, the connective tissue is defective and does not act as it should. Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, Marfan syndrome can affect many body systems, including the skeleton, eyes, heart and blood vessels, nervous system, skin, and lungs. Marfan syndrome affects men, women, and children, and has been found among people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. It is estimated that at least 25,000 people in the United States have the disease. Marfan syndrome affects different people in different ways.
Some people have only mild symptoms, while others are more severely affected.
In most cases, the disease progresses as the person ages. Their arms, legs, fingers, and toes may be disproportionately long in relation to the rest of their body. A person with Marfan syndrome often has a long, narrow face, and the roof of the mouth may be arched, causing the teeth to be crowded. The joints can also be very loose. More than half of all people with Marfan syndrome experience dislocation of one or both lenses of the eye.