Marfan syndrome
(MAR-fan SIN-drome)
A genetic
condition that affects the connective tissue in many organs
and tissues in the body, especially the heart, eyes, bones,
joints, and blood vessels, including the aorta. People with
Marfan syndrome are often tall and thin, have very long
arms, legs, fingers, and toes, and have heart and vision
problems. Other common signs and symptoms include a long
and narrow face, crowded teeth, curved spine, loose joints,
stretch marks in the skin, and chest abnormalities. Marfan
syndrome may be inherited (passed from parent to child) and
is caused by a mutation (change) in a gene called
FBN1.