title: [Value of multidisciplinary consultation in diagnosis and survival of Marfan syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To facilitate diagnosis, define a strategy for prevention and treatment and obtain further insight concerning Marfan's disease, we conducted a series of multidisciplinary consultations in French clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five specialists (a genetics specialist, a pediatrician or a rheumatologist, an ophthalmologist, and a psychologist) saw all the patients successively in the same clinic. A synthesis of the clinical files was prepared for analysis. Since the first consultation on 1 January 1995 and the study end on 30 June 1997, 494 patients (67% adults) participated in primary consultations, 143 were seen at follow-up consultations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnosis of Marfan's disease was affirmed in 41% of the patients, disaffirmed in 48% and uncertain in 11%. Among the Marfan's patients, 75% were seen again within the framework of a multidisciplinary follow-up consultations. Annual work-up included cardiology (echocardiography with measurement of the proximal aorta diameter in search for indication for beta-blocker therapy or preventive valve replacement), ophthalmology (lens, retina) and rheumatology examinations (skeletal involvement).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early diagnosis and rigorous follow-up can help prevent ocular and cardiac complications in Marfan's disease. The multidisciplinary approach provides more precise data for diagnosis and possible phenotype-genotype correlations.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boileau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chagnon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldschild
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jondeau
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Le Parc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015996:Survival Rate