Marfan Syndrome, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Treatment And Related Conditions

by Kenneth Kee

Overview

Marfan's Syndrome is an inherited disorder of the connective tissue involving the collagen and glyccosamino-glycans tissue.
It is characterized by generally weak connective tissue which includes muscles, ligaments and bones.
It is an inherited disease caused by an autosomal dominant gene.
Inheritance is passed to 50 per cent of offspring if one parent is affected and 100 per cent of offspring if both parents are affected.
Marfan’s Syndrome can also be from mutation of the genes.
People with Marfan Syndrome are usually exceptionally tall with long fingers and rather flat feet.
They may have a spinal curve (scoliosis) and be shortsighted
The two heart problems that are most serious are enlargement of the main body artery and leaky heart valves.
When the main body artery stretches (aortic aneurysm) it becomes weaker and blood can leak through the wall (dissection or rupture).
Another heart problem that can occur is leaking of the heart valves.
1. Long slender extremities with arm span exceeding height and long tapered fingers
2. Skeletal deformities include:
a. Kyphoscoliosis
b. Pectus excavatum
c. Long narrow face
d. High arched palate
e. Pronathism
3. Lax ligaments resulting in:
a. Hyperflexiblity of joints
b. Easily strained ligaments and joints
c. Flat feet
4. Eye problems:
a. Dislocation of lens due to lax ligaments
b. Myopia
5. Heart problems:
a. Dilatation of aorta
b. Dilatation of pulmonary artery
Diagnosis of Marfan's Syndrome is often based on:
1. Medical examination of appearance
2. Measurement of metacarpal index from X-rays
Ratio of length to midpoint width is greater than 8.5
3. Urinary hydroxyproline is excessive indicating increased collagen turnover
4. Genetic analysis
Treatment of Marfan's Syndrome includes:
1. Genetic counseling
2. Prevention of joint strains especially spinal joints
3. Beta blockers can reduce aortic blood flow and prevent dilatation of aorta
There may be a shorter life span because of heart and skeletal problems
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Marfan Syndrome
Chapter 2 More about Marfan Syndrome
Chapter 3 Treatment of Marfan Syndrome
Chapter 4 Down Syndrome
Chapter 5 Klinefelter Syndrome
Chapter 6 Turner Syndrome
Chapter 7 Huntington’s Chorea
Epilogue

Marfan's Syndrome is an inherited disease
It causes the connective tissue an elasticity defect.
It is usually inherited from autosomal dominant conditions
Marfan Syndrome can also be the result of the gene mutations

It is characterized by generally weak connective tissue with great flexibility
Marfan Syndrome is usually exceptionally tall with long extremities
Marfan Syndrome also may have pectus abnormalities
Marfan Syndrome has a spinal curve called scoliosis

Marfan Syndrome also has eye problems such as eye dislocation
Some have heart problems such as abnormal valve and aortic dissection.
There is no cure in Marfan Syndrome, only prevention with genetic counseling.
Other treatment is dental care, physical exercise and preventive medicines.
-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Product Details

BN ID:	2940154133095
Publisher:	Kenneth Kee
Publication date:	04/18/2017
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	121 KB

About the Author

Medical doctor since 1972. Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009. Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993. Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 65. However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. He first started writing free blogs on medical conditions seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com. His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com. This autobiolographical account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com. From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 550 amazon kindle books and some into Smashwords.com eBooks. He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books. He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures. Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple. For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients. The later books go into more details of medical conditions. The first chapter of all my ebooks is always taken from my blog A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions which was started in 2007 as a simple educational help to my patients on my first blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com. The medical condition was described simply and direct to the point. Because the simple guide as taken from the blog was described as too simple, I have increased the other chapters to include more detailed description of the illness, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. As a result there are the complaints by some readers of constant repetitions of the same contents but in detail and fairly up to date. He has published 550 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter. The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health conditions and not meant as textbooks. He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke. His clinic is now relocated to the Bouna Vista Community Centre. The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall. He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) starting with the Apple computer and going to PC. All the PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core. The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive. He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance. His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner. The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned. This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale. Dr Kee is the author of: "A Family Doctor's Tale" "Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine" "Case Notes From A Family Doctor"