Marfan syndrome – clinical experiences

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic connective tissue disorder caused by mis folding of the protein fibrillin-1 (coded by the gene FBN1) and alterations in TGFß signalling pathway within the extracellular matrix. Estimates indicate about one in 3,000 to 5,000 individuals have MFS. Patients with MFS have various cardiovascular, skeletal and ocular symptoms: grow to above-average height, dolichostenomelia, arachnodactyly, dolichocephaly and specific facial stigmatisation, abnormal joint flexibility, scoliosis, pectus excavatum/carinatum, limited range of motion in the hips. The most dangerous complication is acute dissection of the ascending aorta, result of a slowly progressive aortic dilatation. Additionally, it may affect the lungs, eyes (lens dislocation) or spinal cord. On the Department of Medical Genetics in Ostrava were between 2002 – 2013 altogether n = 150 individuals examined for possible Marfan syndrome. Complete physical, cardiovascular, ophtamic, orthopaedic examinations and molecular genetic analysis of FBN1, TGFBR1/TGFBR2 were given. N = 51 patients (38 with mutation in FBN1, 75 %) resulted affected by MFS according to the revised Ghent criteria, n = 37 as potential MFS. The diagnosis remains sometimes difficult particularly during childhood, because of the great variability of expression and of the signs evolution with age, but this is a crucial point in order to prevent multiple organ complications. Therapeutic strategies focus on the prevention of aortic dilatation/dissection, currently researches suggest the angiotensin II receptor antagonist Losartan appears to block TGF-beta activity and can slow or halt the formation of aortic aneurysms in MFS. (author)