Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Pregnant, dad has marfan syndrome

Hi...I am 8 weeks pregnant and my child's father has Marfan syndrome. I know it is hereditary, except in his case it was a mutation. I was wondering if anyone knew what kind of a chance our baby has of getting it, and if we are going to have to see geneticists, or what we should expect as far as having a healthy pregnancy and baby. I know it is a rare disease, but I am really hoping there is someone out there that knows something about it, or can refer me to someone that can help...Thanks!

Jess
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
i have been looking at websites displaying info on this syndrome, and i was curious if it sounds like i have it, because i have elongated fingers, my legs are longer than my torso, i have the narrow face, and i have jaw problems with crowded teeth, my armspan is larger than my height, i do not have the common factor of eye problems that i know of, i am 16 and i just thought if you could say one way or another if i have it or not, thanks i am planning on going to the doctor but i am not sure what to say, do i ask about it? my family history also shows traces of it. any help would be much appreciated
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi my name is Mary and I have Marfan Syndrome and i am 36 weeks perggo! There are several severity of it and not all people have all the "Classic" signs of it... as for me you can't even tell I have it, I just have the mutated gene on the FBRN1 gene. I hardly have it at all. i don't have any skeletal signs or anything, just dislocated lenses in my eyes and during pregnancy my aorta became a little enlarged and I was placed on a beta blocker and I have to have a C-Section due to stresses of pregnancy can put on the aorta...You should def see a geneticist as soon as you can and get genetic testing done. This is very expencive but if you have got good insurance it will pay for it...Mine did...They can do testing on the baby while still in utero by doing an amniocentesis.  I chose not to do this cause i didn't want to risk harming my baby or having a  miscarriage... There is a 50% chacne of your baby having Marfan Syndrome due to the father having it... It is Genetic but sometimes it can be spontaneous as well. With me, no one else in my family has it. There are more than 3 mutations on the same gene as the marfan syndrome gene (FBRN1 gene). She could get ether one of those mutations. also, your baby can get a very mild case of it as I have or she can get full blown classic marfans. Which effects the eyes, fingers toes, long arms and legs, sunkin in chest wall and effects the lungs... I have done plenty of research on this and from experience with it all i would strongly advise you to get the baby tested. you can wait till you have the baby like i am doing or you can do it now. just to let you know, people these days with marfans live happy and normal lives and have the same life span of someone without marfans. Ita ll depends on the medical treatment you get and how you take care of yourself. Get tested, and be safe...  

just to let you know, my baby is perfectly healthy and doing great. she is wonderful and shows no signs so far  of anything.  but it can also take up to 5 years to detect if your baby has it  if you dont get testing done. my parents never knew I had it till I was 5 years of age cause i showed no signs of it. My eyes started to go bad and the eye doctor actually detected the possible marfans. but I was never positively diagnosed with it cause no testing was available then and i had only one sign of it, you have to have 3 signs to positively be diagnosed with it... unless you have testing done. and they still arent sure i have the actual Marfans itself. cause there are 3 mutations on themutated  gene (FBRN1 gene) and marfans is just one of them... since I dont have but one sign of marfans its hard to say i have full blown marfans... i was never tested for it ether cause back then there was no genetic testing for it... I jsut recently in the past few months was tested and it came back positive for a  mutation on the FBRN12 gene. i have boarder line Marfans, not full blown marfans. i currently go to the leading hospital in the country for marfans and that is Standford University.I live in the area. i am seeing the leading marfans specialist cardiologist for the decease in the nation I strongly recommend them, to anyone,.. I also see one of the worlds best high risk OB in the nation too at Standford and geneticist that deal with marfans. If you live in California or in the area I can give you numbers and such to get started!... Good luck with the baby and god bless!! I hope this helps and sorry to make this so long...
Helpful - 0
264002 tn?1193278955
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Although Marfan syndrome is rare, there are definitely specialists who can help you and your family to learn more about Marfan syndrome. It may help you to see a medical geneticist who is familiar with Marfan syndrome, and also to meet with a genetic counselor to talk about what to expect during pregnancy and chances that your pregnancy has also inherited Marfan syndrome. When you mentioned that the baby’s father was “a mutation”, I am assuming what you meant was that he was the first in his family to be diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, and that he has Marfan syndrome as a result of a “new mutation”.

Marfan syndrome runs in families in an autosomal dominant manner. This means that someone with Marfan syndrome has 50% chance of passing this condition on to each child he or she has. Inheritance is not affected by gender. Given that your child’s father has Marfan syndrome, your pregnancy has a 50% chance of having Marfan syndrome, and a 50% chance of not having Marfan syndrome.

If you are interested in learning more about Marfan syndrome and the impact that this may have on your pregnancy, it would be best to meet with a medical geneticist and a genetic counselor. You can find a medical geneticist through the American College of Medical Genetics, and a genetic counselor can be located through the National Society of Genetic Counselor. Another good source of information about Marfan syndrome is the National Marfan Foundation (1-800-8-MARFAN ext 10).
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Genetic Disorders Forum

Popular Resources
An interview with the co-discoverer of one of the biggest breakthroughs in cancer research
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.