Arthritis is one of the diseases that affect a significant number of people in the modern day world. It is disease that often leads to various complications, some of which often turn out to be life threatening. Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, is often associated with the problem of arthritis. The causes, symptoms and treatments of Marfan syndrome are discussed on this page.
Causes
A genetic defect is what causes the Marfan syndrome in people. A defect in the gene, fibrillin-1, has been identified as the cause of the syndrome. The fibrillin-1 gene has a vital function to perform in the development of the elastic tissues in the human body. When the gene gets affected, it leads to problems in body parts like the eyes, skin and aorta.
It has also been observed that the patients suffering from the problem have an above average height that is caused by the growth in the long bones of the body. Long arms and legs follow as a natural consequence of the overgrowth of the bones. As much as 70% of the patients suffering from Marfan syndrome have a family history of the disease.
Symptoms of Marfan Syndrome
Unusual height is one of the symptoms of the disease. Long arms and legs are also identified as one of the symptoms of the syndrome. This particular condition is known by the medical term of arachnodactyly. The length of the arms of the patient is disproportionate to his or her height.Some of the other symptoms of the disease are crowded teeth, near-sightedness and scoliosis. The patient could also have complaints of learning disability, hypotonia and flat feet.
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Tests
Physical examination is conducted by the doctor in order to diagnose the problem. During the physical examination problems related to the eyes and joints could get revealed. Echocardiogram is also conducted to test for the mutation of the Fibrillin-1 gene.
Treatment and prevention
Eye problems should be immediately dealt with, in order to eliminate the chances of any serious eye defects. The occurrence of scoliosis is very common in the patients suffering from Marfan syndrome. The parents have to take extra care of their child, afflicted by the syndrome, to prevent the development of scoliosis. The pressure on the aorta can be minimized or reduced by the use of medication. The patient should also not participate in exercises or sports which cause too much of physical exertion.
arthritisxl.com provides an overview about Marfan syndrome and other types of arthritis.
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