MarFan+Syndrome

MARFAN SYNDROME By Jason and Nashira Marfan Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that involves the disorder of the connective muscle tissue. Connective tissue provides support for many important structures in the human body. In marfan syndrome the chemical makeup of the connective tissue is messed up. As a result of marfan syndrome many structures aren't as strong as they should be. Marfan Syndrome is inherited and can affect many parts of the human body. There is a 50-50 ratio that a son or daughter of an infected parent that the syndrome will be passed on to them. In the US there are about 180,000 who carry this syndrome and there daily lives are affected every day. Although many similar traits are involved in marfan syndrome there is no single conclusive test that can prove that you have marfan syndrome. //This picture shows the inherited family of marfan syndrome.//

__Symptoms of Marfan syndrome - pain in legs -pain in lower back + abdomen - unclear vision or nearsightedness - pain in chest or trouble breathing

If you experience any of these symptoms you should contact a doctor immediately.__

Effects

__Having marfan syndrome can completely ruin a person’s life. It prevents the person who has inherited marfan to play sports. It also prevents infected females to become pregnant. But sometimes people with mild cases of marfan can still play a "modified" version of a sport.__ Treatments __Unfortunately there is no known cure for this disorder. But you can still prevent some serious symptoms of this disorder in the early stages by getting surgery in certain parts of the body. Even though this treatment is available it is very risky and sometimes symptoms get worse than before. To understand more about this disorder important research has been put in to use so that eventually they will find a 100% cure for this disorder.__

Discussion questions__

1.] What is marfan syndrome and what does it do? 2.] How does this disorder affect the lives of those affected? 3.] What are the key symptoms of this disorder? 4.] How is this disorder transmitted?

Resources and references

1.] www.Health.com 2.] www.Medicine.com 3.] www.American Health Assosiation 4.] www.National Marfan Foundation