Canadian Marfan Association
Our Club is committed to supporting the Canadian Marfan Association, a charitable organization based in Mississauga, which is dedicated to helping people with Marfan Syndrome and increasing public awareness.
Marfan Syndrome is a connective tissue disorder, which affects many organ systems including the skeleton, lungs, eyes, heart and blood vessels. Marfan is an inherited disorder and can affect people of any age, sex, race or ethnic origin. It is known that a single abnormal gene is responsible for the syndrome. Since genes carry the master plan for all human characteristics, an abnormality of one gene, such as the Marfan gene, results in a specific pattern of bodily changes and medical problems.
Marfan may be difficult to diagnose because there is no specific laboratory test for the condition. In addition, signs or symptoms vary greatly from one person to the next. Most affected people will only show some of the possible signs and complications. Marfan Syndrome can be diagnosed only after careful physical examination focusing particularly on the system involved. There is no cure for Marfan Syndrome, however careful medical management can greatly improve prognosis and lengthen the patient’s life span.
The most serious problems associated with Marfan Syndrome involve the cardiovascular system, leading to irregular heart rhythm and heart failure. Blood vessels, particularly the aorta, may become enlarged and more fragile resulting in leakage requiring surgical repair. People with Marfan Syndrome are generally near-sighted and some experience dislocation of the ocular lens. Involvement of the skeleton includes curvature of the spine, abnormal shaped chest, loose-jointedness and tall stature. This is another reason TCI has chosen to support this particular charity both in the United States and here in Canada.
Be sure to visit www.marfan.ca
