Pete Maravich had it. It's speculated Lincoln suffered from it, too. Kerry certainly looks like the type. Long, thin, bony, fingers, a weakened aorta, unusually tall and slender, almost droopy.
When a person whose extended arm span is longer than their height, the disease is suspected.
Well thats it then.....we now know what gravitationally challenged and deeply disturbed dashle has.
Eye Findings in Marfan's Syndrome
Marfan's Syndrome is a heritable disorder of connective tissue with characteristic skeletal, cardiovascular, and ocular manifestations. Dislocation of the lens is a frequent finding.
Marfan syndrome is an inherited disease characterized by laxity of connective tissue. Research has identified defective formation of a specific protein in patients with this syndrome, an expression of one of several chromosomal abnormalities. In the full-blown disorder, individuals have heart disease (dilated aorta and regurgitation of blood through heart valves), abnormalities of the eyes (dislocated lens and myopia), musculoskeletal disorders (spinal curvature and a depressed sternum), tall stature, abnormally long and slender fingers and toes, and hyperextensible joints. Commonly, however, patients with Marfan syndrome present with varying combinations of these findings.
The cardiovascular abnormalities present the greatest risk for mortality and morbidity in Marfan patients. Progressive widening of the root of the aorta where it leaves the left ventricle is common, with a risk of eventual formation and sudden rupture of an aortic aneurysm. This defect is typically accompanied by abnormalities of the aortic and mitral valves and insufficient blood flow into the aorta. Efforts to prevent rupture of an aortic aneurysm include the use of beta-blocker medication and surgery to narrow the aortic root when it reaches a critical diameter of 55-60 mm.
The risk of ruptured aortic aneurysms from sports play in athletes with Marfan syndrome was demonstrated by the sudden death of the volleyball player Flo Hyman, the 6-foot 5-inch star of the 1984 United States Olympic team, who collapsed and died during a game in Japan in 1985. Autopsy revealed findings typical of Marfan syndrome, with a ruptured aortic aneurysm and accumulation of blood in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart. This tragedy resulted in an awareness that tall athletes with undiagnosed Marfan syndrome might be at risk and led to recommendations for restricting such individuals from participating in certain types of physical activity (i.e., avoidance of resistance training, sports that might involve a blow to the chest, and endurance training) (Braverman, 1998; Pyeritz & McKusick, 1979).
