What Is Marfan Syndrome?
3. Cardiovascular Signs and Symptoms
Cardiovascular symptoms of Marfan syndrome may not be the most obvious, but they can be the most serious. The valves of the heart control the flow of blood, making sure it travels in only one direction. MFS can cause weakness of the valves, which can affect their function by changing their shape. People with Marfan syndrome are susceptible to heart failure because the cardiac muscle has to work harder to compensate for valve dysfunction.
The disorder of the connective tissue can also affect the blood vessels. The aorta, the large artery that supplies blood from the heart to the rest of the body, is particularly at risk. MFS can cause it to become larger than normal. This puts the aorta at risk of aneurysm, a bulging of the vessel’s tissue that can eventually cause a rupture.
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