Marfan Syndrome, which is named after Antoine Marfan who first described the disorder in 1896, is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissues found throughout the body. This syndrome can affect many different parts of the body, but the most commonly affected are the heart, blood vessels, bones, joints, respiratory system, nervous system, and eyes. Thankfully, a person’s intelligence is never affected. Marfan syndrome affects people from all races and ethnic backgrounds, and this often makes it hard to detect. It is a pretty rare genetic disorder affecting only about 1 in every 5,000 people.
This syndrome is from a mutation of a gene on chromosome 15 and this causes problems in the production of fibrillin-1 which is a protein that is an important part of connective tissue. The name for the gene is FBN1. Basically, it is the “glue” that helps to support the tissues in the human body. A child born to a parent with this syndrome has a 50% of having it. However, in the remaining 25%, neither parent has the disease which gives them a 1 in 10,000 chance of having a child with this disorder. When a child of two unaffected parents is born with it then the genetic mutation occurs in either the egg or sperm cell at the time of conception.
The defect of this “glue” leads to phenotypes such as a thin, lanky build, flexible joints, sunken eyes, a chest that is sunken in or bulges out, curvature of the spine to one side (scoliosis), and flat feet. There are other physical appearances associated with this syndrome, but these are the most commonly noticed. Doctors keep a close eye out for people who possess these abnormal features. The problems found internally, especially those related or concerning the heart and surroundi...
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...en fatal complication of Marfan syndrome. “ This research has shown that this medicine prevents aortic aneurysms in a mouse model. Studies are being done to determine if people can be helped with this drug. Other studies are being conducted that hopefully will lead scientists to a more thorough understanding of this disorder and how best to treat it. Since Marfan Syndrome is a lifelong disorder, this research will hopefully improve the lives of those who suffer from it.
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This form of MD is normally appears in males, but there are a few extremely rare cases where it has appeared in females. Most of the statistics found only dealt with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the U.S., so it is assumed that the disorder is more prominent in the United States. Also, there was no evidence that it affected any race more than another. (www.ygyh.org)
The range and severity of symptoms and findings may be extremely variable, including among affected members of the same family. However, primary findings may include premature closure of the fibrous joints between certain bones of the skull, unusually flat, underdeveloped midfacial regions abnormally broad great toes, and/or malformation or fusion of certain bones within the feet. In some cases, Jackson-Weiss Syndrome may result from new genetic changes that appear to occur randomly for unknown reasons. In other affected individuals, the disorder may be inherited. Mutations in the FGFR2 gene cause Jackson–Weiss syndrome. The FGFR2 gene produces a protein called
ACH, is an interesting disease, one that after many years of research still remains a partial mystery. The fact that a single nucleotide on one chromosome can so greatly affect an individual is astounding, especially coupled with the fact that this mutation is so homogenious in genotype and phenotype. With more skeletal dysplasias being connected to FGFR3, research has increased to fully determine and define the pathways involved with this gene. Determining the reason for such a high mutation frequency and the link to paternal age are also being looked into. Once there is more understanding of how this mutation affects the body, treatments and possibly cures can be found for these individuals.
Genetic disorders can be caused by many of the 46 chromosomes in human cells. This specific disorder is linked to a mutation in the long arm of the X, or 23rd chromosome. The mutation is recessive, meaning a normal X chromosome can hide it. Females have two X chromosomes allowing them to hide the mutated recessive one, making them a carrier of the gene, while males only have one X chromosome, meaning that they are unable to hide the mutation and they become effected by the disease. Therefore if a male carries the gene, he is affected because he has no way of dominating the recessive gene, but if a female carries it, she is only a carrier and has a 50/50 chance of passing it on to her baby. This may seem like a high probability however, only one in every fifty thousand male births will have this immunodeficiency disease.
...esearch that improves diagnosis and treatment for all of the different body systems that are affected by the single gene mutation known as Marfan syndrome. This includes the respiratory system…the lungs, and the skeletal system…scoliosis, joints, and ligaments, visual… vision, and cardiovascular…the heart and the blood vessels like the aortic valve (Marfan Foundation, 2013). Genetic testing also helps to identify where the mutations are exactly and this can help with treatment advances for Marfan syndrome.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy affects about 8 out of every 100,000 live births and also causes death among more babies than any other genetic disease out there. About one in every forty people has this gene in them but may not have SMA so they are a genetic carrier. But in order for a child to have SMA, both parents have to carry the mutated gene and passed it to the child. Therefore this causes the child to have double copies of the abnormal gene. About 1 in 40 men and 1 in 80 women are carriers of the gene.
(Binder, 386). Other collagen-containing extraskeletal tissues, such as the sclerae, the teeth, and the heart valves are also affected to a variable degree. OI has a "common feature of bony fragility associated with defective formation of collagen by osteoblasts and fibroblasts." (Smith, 1983, 13) This disease, involving defective development of the connective tissues, is usually the result of the autosomal dominant gene, but can also be the result of the autosomal recessive gene. Spontaneous mutations are common and the clinical presentation of the disease remains to be quite broad. (Binder, 386)
In the movie, The Mighty, Kevin has been diagnosed with Morquio syndrome, which is an uncommon birth defect. The movie somewhat depicts the disease that Kevin has, but there are some differences. Kevin’s life has drastically changed due to this syndrome, because there are many obstacles he has to face. There are many components that form this disease, which makes it difficult to move from place to place and be “normal”.
The disease is found in a mutation on the HEXA gene. The HEXA gene makes beta-Hexosaminidase A, an enzyme that is necessary for proper spinal cord and brain development. This works to break down GM2 ganglioside, a fatty substance. When a mutation occurs here, the GM2 ganglioside can’t be broken down, accumulating to harmful levels in neurons of the brain and spinal cord, which results in the damaging symptoms of the disease.
This rare genetic disorder has multiple alternative names. The shortest one is referred to as CFC syndrome, but the other two are just as long as the original term for the disorder. They are known as Cardio-facial-cutaneous syndrome and Facio-cardio-cutaneous syndrome. It was first construed in the year of 1986 by J.F. Reynolds and associates at two places; the Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena, Montana and the University of Utah. Its explanation was concluded from the examination of eight unrelated patients who all shared many of the same characteristics. They all had psychological disabilities and analogous aberrations in their appearance of their face, hair, skin, nails, and heart.
...s exist as an inherited disease in some families. The majority of case studies show that the patients affected have no family history of the disease.
Marfan syndrome is a primarily an autosomal dominant disorder that affects 1 in 5000 people worldwide. Marfan syndrome is connective tissue disorder that results in a mutation in the Fibrillin 1 gene. The life expectancy of an individual with Marfan syndrome is close to normal with early detection, but Marfan syndrome still remains underestimated due in large part to characteristics similarities that are common in general public. This is compounded by the 25 percent of individuals with a new gene mutation on Fibrillin 1. It is imperative that nurses have a greater understanding of Marfan syndrome in order to facilitate a genetic referral for an early and accurate Marfan syndrome diagnosis. This should include the mechanism of how this genetic mutation manifests thought out the body, the presenting symptoms, the risk factors, treatment, and education needs of the patient.
Catherine and Kirstie Fields are twins from Wales and the disease is named after them. The disease causes muscular degeneration. Fortunately those two girls are still alive and there has been no mutation in their brains and their personalities also have not changed.
Most individuals are either related to or know someone who is effected by some type of disability. Many of these disabilities are caused by genetic disorders. Genetic disorders may alter physical appearance and cause mild to severe mental retardation. Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Turners syndrome and many other syndromes result from a mutation of a chromosome, an extra chromosome, or too few chromosomes.