Marfan Syndrome

Treatment

People with Marfan syndrome need lifelong monitoring and care. The life span of a person with untreated Marfan is only about 32 years, compared with at least 72 years for those who receive treatment. More than 60 percent of people with Marfan syndrome require multiple operations over their lifetimes.

At Mayo Clinic, treatment for Marfan syndrome is tailored to your individual needs. Treatment includes:

Enlarged aorta (aneurysm) before surgery.

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Valve sparing aortic root repair procedure

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• Medications to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of swelling (dilation) of the aorta.
• Surgery to repair aortic aneurysm or to replace the aortic root — the junction of the heart and aorta — if the aneurysm becomes too large. Mayo Clinic specialists recommend surgery if the aorta's diameter enlarges to about 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) for people at especially high risk of aortic rupture (smaller body surface area, family history of rapid dilation or aortic tears).
  
  You also may need surgery to replace your aortic valve — the opening through which blood passes from the heart into the aorta — and to treat recurring heart and blood vessel problems such as mitral valve disease as you age.
• Imaging of the descending aorta after aortic root surgery. Mayo Clinic specialists image the entire aorta once or twice a year in people who have had aortic surgery. Enlargement of the descending aorta — the major artery in the chest and stomach — is common after aortic root surgery.
• Genetic counseling or testing or both at the time of diagnosis and when pregnancy is being considered. The issues include confirming the diagnosis and reviewing the risk of transmitting Marfan syndrome to children.