This widening is progressive and if left untreated could cause leaking of the aortic valve. When the aorta becomes greatly widened surgery is necessary to keep it from leaking and causing death.
Diagnoses:.
Marfan syndrome is very difficult to diagnose by just using one test. In order to be sure if someone has the disorder a multiple of test need to be performed. These tests include Echocardiogram (a sound wave picture of the heart by a cardiologist), slit-lamp eye examination (performed by an ophthalmologist), skeletal examination (by an orthopedist), and a checkup of the their complete family history. The Echocardiogram tells if the aorta is larger then the average person. The silt-lamp exam tells if the patient has dispositional pupils that are common in the disease. The skeletal exam is done to tell if the bones are weaker and longer then they are supposed to be. The family history can give doctors a good idea about if other people in the family have had the same complications associated with the disease.
Treatment:.
Going in every two to six months for a check up on the aorta. By going in to the check ups they can going in for a surgery to reduce the size of the aorta before it becomes critical. After the surgery the patients are given anti-clotting medication for the rest of there live. This is due to the blood tending to clot around the artificial valves. The procedure for the surgery of a protruding or indented chest involves putting a curved rod through the chest and under the sternum and ribs. The new surgery is successful and very promising. Beta-blockers have also been used to control some of the cardiovascular symptoms of Marfan syndrome as well; however, they are not effective against the skeletal and ocular problems, which can also be serious. .
Prognosis:.
The prognosis of Marfan syndrome disease has improved. In 1972 Dr. Murdoch and his colleges reported a mean age of death of thirty-two years.