Marfan Syndrome

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Marfan syndrome is not the only genetic disorder that affects connective tissue and has conditions including Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that messes with the connective tissue throughout the body (Marfan Foundation) and was discovered by Antoine Marfan in France back in 1896 (KidsHealth). Features of this genetic disorder are mostly found in the heart, blood vessels, bones, joints, and eyes. (Marfan Foundation) But it affects each person differently. Marfan can be life threatening, as it affects the lungs, skin, and nervous system. Marfan is a change, or a mutation, in the gene that makes Fibrillin. Fibrillin is a protein that plays a huge roll in your connective tissue(NIH). You can only inherit Marfan(NIH), …show more content…

The causes of aneurysms are sometimes unknown. Some may be congenital, meaning a person is born with them. An aneurysm may also occur as the result of aortic disease or an injury. (AHA) There are three types, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, and the last but not least, Cerebral Aneurysm. The aneurysm that Loeys and Marfan contains is Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm is an abnormal bulging or ballooning of the portion of the aorta the passes through the chest. The most common cause is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries(AHA) Risk factors may include, aging, genetic conditions such as Marfan and Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, Inflammation of the aorta, injury from falls or other trauma, and or, Syphilis. A patient with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm may not have or experience any symptoms until it begins to leak blood into the nearby tissue or expand. There are many symptoms such as hoarseness, swallowing problems, swelling in neck, chest or upper back pains, and many more to include. (AHA) Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome are very alike in the way that they both have the condition, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and many other comparisons. (Marfan Foundation) Some of the symptoms they share is stretch marks, variable skeletal findings, and Dural Ectasia. Both Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndrome are found throughout the body, making both of these genetic disorders impossible to cure. (Marfan

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