Written by Editorial Team
The general health condition of a woman plays an important role in a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and a stress-free postpartum period. But what happens if the mother has some genetic disorder? Obviously, it can lead to some nasty complications and jeopardize the health of the mother and the baby. One such health condition is – Marfan syndrome. Continue reading to know about everything related to Marfan syndrome and pregnancy.
In This Article
Marfan syndrome is an inherited disease that impacts the connective tissues which support the organs and other structures in the body. Once the person inherits Marfan syndrome, their connective tissue lacks strength due to its abnormal chemical makeup.
This issue can impact various body systems, like the bones, eyes, skin, circulatory system, nerves, and lungs. The damage done by Marfan syndrome can be minor or severe.
If the main aorta in the heart is affected, then it can lead to life-threatening complications. Cardiovascular abnormalities due to this syndrome are highly serious during pregnancy as they can lead to serious heart issues.
Marfan syndrome is caused due to a mutation or defect that happens in the gene which produces fibrillin. Fibrillin is one of the key proteins essential to sustain the elasticity, strength, and functioning of the connective tissues in the body. A defect in the gene that produces fibrillin automatically affects the connective tissues giving rise to MFS.
Different people are affected in different ways by this disorder. The symptoms of Marfan syndrome vary significantly even in people of the same family. This is because, even though the defective gene is the same, different kinds of mutations can happen.
This phenomenon is also called the “variable expression”. Therefore, some people may have minor problems while others may develop complications that can be life-threatening. In the majority of the cases, the disease is known to get worse with age. The symptoms also vary relying on which part is affected.
Some of the common symptoms of MFS relying on the part of the body affected are:
Lung complications are not very common even though the tiny air sac becomes less elastic due to connective tissue problems. However, the Marfan syndrome can result:
Most people who have Marfan syndrome have complications related to the heart and blood vessels.
Nervous System
Dural ectasia is one of the major symptoms of MFS. A membrane known as Dura, which is made up of connective tissue, surrounds the brain and spinal cord. MFS affects this membrane, bringing about the ballooning or widening of the dural sac.
This can put pressure on the vertebrae, which is located in the lower spine, and leads to wearing off the bone encompassing the spinal cord. This can cause:
The pregnancy in a woman affected by Marfan syndrome falls under the “high-risk” category. There is no cure for Marfan syndrome. Therefore, the treatment focuses on preventing the various complications related to this disorder.
The treatment plan depends on the patient’s needs. The approach relies on the severity and the structures affected. To accomplish this, following your doctor’s advice and regular health checkups are mandatory throughout pregnancy.
Did you suffer from any symptoms of Marfan syndrome during your pregnancy? What measures did you take to treat it effectively? Do share your experience in the comments section below.
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