title: Marfan syndrome. Part 1: pathophysiology and diagnosis.
abstract: Marfan syndrome is a connective-tissue disease inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and caused mainly by mutations in the gene FBN1. This gene encodes fibrillin-1, a glycoprotein that is the main constituent of the microfibrils of the extracellular matrix. Most mutations are unique and affect a single amino acid of the protein. Reduced or abnormal fibrillin-1 leads to tissue weakness, increased transforming growth factor beta signaling, loss of cell-matrix interactions, and, finally, to the different phenotypic manifestations of Marfan syndrome. Since the description of FBN1 as the gene affected in patients with this disorder, great advances have been made in the understanding of its pathogenesis. The development of several mouse models has also been crucial to our increased understanding of this disease, which is likely to change the treatment and the prognosis of patients in the coming years. Among the many different clinical manifestations of Marfan syndrome, cardiovascular involvement deserves special consideration, owing to its impact on prognosis. However, the diagnosis of patients with Marfan syndrome should be made according to Ghent criteria and requires a comprehensive clinical assessment of multiple organ systems. Genetic testing can be useful in the diagnosis of selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, C/Profesor Martín Lagos, sn, 28024 Madrid, Spain. victoria_canadasgodoy@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cañadas
authors.forename: Isidre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vilacosta
authors.forename: Isidoro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruna
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fuster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D000071838:Fibrillin-1; D000071837:Fibrillins; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D054392:Adipokines
chemical_list: D003285:Contractile Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D000071838:Fibrillin-1; D000071837:Fibrillins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; C000605722:FBN1 protein, human; D054392:Adipokines; C000605724:Fbn1 protein, mouse; C016598:microfibrillar protein