Marfan Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Marfan Syndrome, including details on genetics, causes, symptoms, treatment.

Comprehensive genetic analysis of relevant four genes in 49 patients with Marfan syndrome or Marfan-related phenotypes.

Sakai H, Visser R, Ikegawa S, Ito E, Numabe H, Watanabe Y, Mikami H, Kondoh T, Kitoh H, Sugiyama R, Okamoto N, Ogata T, Fodde R, Mizuno S, Takamura K, Egashira M, Sasaki N, Watanabe S, Nishimaki S, Takada F, Nagai T, Okada Y, Aoka Y, Yasuda K, Iwasa M, Kogaki S, Harada N, Mizuguchi T, Matsumoto N

Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.

In order to evaluate the contribution of FBN1, FBN2, TGFBR1, and TGFBR2 mutations to the Marfan syndrome (MFS) phenotype, the four genes were analyzed by direct sequencing in 49 patients with MFS or suspected MFS as a cohort study. A total of 27 FBN1 mutations (22 novel) in 27 patients (55%, 27/49), 1 novel TGFBR1 mutation in 1 (2%, 1/49), and 2 recurrent TGFBR2 mutations in 2 (4%, 2/49) were identified. No FBN2 mutation was found. Three patients with either TGFBR1 or TGFBR2 abnormality did not fulfill the Ghent criteria, but expressed some overlapping features of MFS and Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS). In the remaining 19 patients, either of the genes did not show any abnormalities. This study indicated that FBN1 mutations were predominant in MFS but TGFBRs defects may account for approximately 5-10% of patients with the syndrome.

Published 25 August 2006 in Am J Med Genet A, 140(16): 1719-25.
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