NORD's
Washington Office
 Read about events on Capitol Hill, funding for rare-disease research, and other topics of interest from NORD's office in Washington, DC.
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information, we encourage you to contact your personal physician or the agencies listed as
"Resources" on this report.
Copyright 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008
NORD is very grateful to Hal Dietz MD, Professor, Institute of Genetic Medicine and the Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Marfan Syndrome
Disorder Subdivisions
- Marfan Syndrome Type I
- Marfan Syndrome Type II
General Discussion
Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue, which is the material between cells of the body that gives the tissues form and strength. Connective tissue is found all over the body and multiple organ systems may be affected in individuals with Marfan syndrome. The heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular), skeletal, and eye (ocular) systems are most often affected. Major symptoms include overgrowth of the long bones of the arms and legs, abnormal side-to-side curvature of the spine (scoliosis), indentation or protrusion of the chest wall (pectus), dislocation of the lenses of the eyes (ectopia lentis), nearsightedness (myopia), widening (aneurysm) and degeneration of the main artery that carries blood away from the heart (aorta), floppiness of the mitral valve (mitral valve prolapse) and backward flow of blood through the aortic and mitral valves (aortic and mitral regurgitation). The specific symptoms and the severity of Marfan syndrome vary greatly from case to case. Marfan syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Defects or disruptions (mutations) of the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene have been linked to Marfan syndrome and related disorders.
Organizations related to Marfan Syndrome
- Canadian Marfan Association
Centre Plaza Postal Outlet
128 Queen Street South
P.O. Box 42257
Mississauga
Ontario None L5M 4Z0
Phone #: 905-826-3223
800 #: 866-722-1722
e-mail: info@marfan.ca
Home page: http://www.marfan.ca
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- Let Them Hear Foundation
1900 University Avenue, Suite 101
East Palo Alto CA 94303
Phone #: 650-462-3143
800 #: 877-735-2929
e-mail: info@letthemhear.org
Home page: http://www.letthemhear.org
- MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains NY 10605
Phone #: 914-997-4488
800 #: 888-663-4637
e-mail: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Home page: http://www.marchofdimes.com
- Marfan Association UK
Rochester House
5 Aldershot Road
Fleet
Hampshire None GU51 3NG
Phone #: +44- (0-) 1252 810472
800 #: --
e-mail: marfan@tinyonline.co.uk
Home page: http://www.marfan-association.org.uk/
- NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda MD 20892-3675
Phone #: 301-495-4484
800 #: 877-226-4267
e-mail: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info
- National Marfan Foundation
22 Manhasset Avenue
Port Washington NY 11050
Phone #: 516-883-8712
800 #: 800-862-7326
e-mail: staff@marfan.org
Home page: http://www.marfan.org
- Sjældne Diagnoser / Rare Disorders Denmark
Frederiksholms Kanal 2, 3rd Floor
Copenhagen K None 1220
Phone #: 45 -33 -14 00 10
800 #: N/A
e-mail: mail@sjaeldnediagnoser
Home page: http://www.raredisorders.dk
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