This book has been written in response to the many excellent questions posed by our patients and their care teams, questions which deserve the best-informed and up to date answers provided by our experts in each of the many health areas affected by Marfan syndrome. The aim of this text is to provide a summary of the present day understanding of diagnosis, management and best medical and surgical treatment of infants, children and adults with Marfan syndrome. The authors cover the lifelong problems from birth to old age, in each affected system. Forty percent of this information is the result of new careful research based on a well-defined longitudinally studied UK patient population. Introduction.- Diagnosis and treatment of Marfan syndrome – a summary.- Neonatal Marfan syndrome.- The paediatric cardiologist and Marfan syndrome.- Aortic and Cardiac Histopathology in Marfan syndrome.- Cardiac Management.- Echocardiography in diagnosis and management.- Magnetic resonance imaging.- Thoracic aortic surgery in Marfan syndrome.- Abdominal and thoracoabdominal aorta replacement for Marfan syndrome.- Ophthalmic Abnormalities in Marfan syndrome.- Spinal Deformity in Marfan syndrome.- Rheumatological Aspects of Marfan syndrome.- Pulmonary Manifestations of Marfan syndrome.- Psychosocial Aspects of Marfan syndrome.- Dental Aspects of Marfan syndrome.- Marfan syndrome: Inherited Microfibrillar disorder caused by mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene.- Reproductive decisions.- Pregnancy Management in Marfan syndrome.- Irritable bowel syndrome in Marfan syndrome.- Genitourinary tract in Marfan syndrome.- Neurological disorder in Marfan syndrome.- Lifestyle Management and Effects of Aging.- Patient support.
“A multiauthor and multidisciplinary text on Marfan syndrome describes in 27 chapters the diagnosis, clinical, psycho-social and therapeutic aspects of this less rare than thought disease. To the best of my knowledge, the first book of its kind.” (Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews (PER), 2017)
“This book will be useful for all personnel involved in taking care of patients with Marfan syndrome … . This state-of-the-art book offers the most comprehensive collection of seminal knowledge about Marfan syndrome both in the pediatric and adult patient populations. It provides practice guidelines as well as step-by-step instructions on what to expect, what to do, what to avoid, and how to manage, patients with Marfan syndrome.” (Fahad Javed, Doody’s Book Reviews, July, 2016)
Dr. Child is a University of Toronto Medical graduate who studied pediatrics, then Medical Genetics in Canada, USA, London (Hospital for Sick Children, Guy’s Hospital), before joining the Cardiac and Vascular Sciences Department, St. George’s, University of London, as Reader in Cardiovascular Genetics. She has a special interest in Marfan syndrome, with 25 years’ experience in diagnosis, management, and research into its many manifestations. She is an author of over 100 scientific papers. As organiser of the International Consortium to find the Marfan syndrome gene (fibrillin-1) in 1991, and a major contributor of over 200 genotype – phenotype correlations to the International Marfan Database held in Paris, she has an overview of clinical and molecular genetic studies. [Most importantly, she is genetic advisor to the national AIMS Trial of Irbesartan, involving 27 centres in the UK. This should determine whether Irbesartan is a medication which can preserve aortic wall architecture and prevent dissection.] Medical advisory links with the Marfan Association and the Marfan Trust (both of whom she helped to establish), have helped Dr Child to assemble a wealth of clinical and laboratory data, based on experience with over 3000 families with Marfan syndrome.
The aim of this text is to provide a summary of the present day understanding of diagnosis, management, and best medical and surgical treatment of Marfan syndrome. The authors cover lifelong problems, from birth to old age, in each affected system.
Patients may initially be referred to any one of a number of specialists and although each doctor is likely to be familiar with a particular aspect of the syndrome, they are less likely to be familiar with its other features. The fact that the syndrome presents in many different ways may also hinder its recognition.
By making this information available, Diagnosis and Management of Marfan Syndrome aims to raise awareness of Marfan syndrome, and to promote best management aimed at prolonging lifespan and improving quality of life. This text has been written by a network of expert physicians who wish to share their hard-won knowledge, and is a useful tool for any clinician likely to encounter a patient with this condition.
Comprehensive multisystem coverage
Provides a summary of the present day understanding of diagnosis, management and best medical and surgical treatment of infants, children and adults with Marfan syndrome
Covers the lifelong problems from birth to old age, in each affected system
