Home Print this page Email this page
Users Online: 11616
Home About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 


 
 Table of Contents  
CASE REPORT
Year : 2012  |  Volume : 1  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 29-31

Marfan syndrome: Exploring its jurisdiction


1 Department of Internal Medicine , Medwin Hospital, Nampally, Hyderabad, AP, India
2 Department of Internal Medicine and Pulmonology Critical Care, Medwin Hospital, Nampally, Hyderabad, AP, India

Date of Web Publication21-May-2012

Correspondence Address:
Dilip Gude
Registrar, Internal medicine, Medwin Hospital, Nampally, Hyderabad - 500 001, AP
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2278-344X.96417

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder of connective tissue with multisystem involvement. Associations with tuberculosis may quagmire the diagnostic capacities in delineating the exclusivity of pulmonary spectra of Marfan syndrome from tuberculosis especially in sputum negative (for acid fast bacilli) patients. The disorder also casts a huge spectrum of clinical manifestations some of them less known. We discuss our case of Marfan syndrome with sputum positive tuberculosis and explore the occurrence of such unusual presentations.

Keywords: Clinical spectrum, Marfan syndrome, pulmonary tuberculosis


How to cite this article:
Gude D, Bansal DP, Patle S, Naveed S. Marfan syndrome: Exploring its jurisdiction. Int J Health Allied Sci 2012;1:29-31

How to cite this URL:
Gude D, Bansal DP, Patle S, Naveed S. Marfan syndrome: Exploring its jurisdiction. Int J Health Allied Sci [serial online] 2012 [cited 2024 Mar 28];1:29-31. Available from: https://www.ijhas.in/text.asp?2012/1/1/29/96417


  Introduction Top


Marfan syndrome (MfS) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a heritable genetic defect of connective tissue (FBN1 gene which codes for the protein fibrillin). [1] It results in a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, some of which are under reported. We present a case of MfS with pulmonary tuberculosis and a few remarkably deviant features. The pertaining literature is discussed.


  Case Report Top


An 18-year old male, born of a nonconsanguineous marriage presented with cough, breathlessness, and fever since 1 week. He also complained of aching in the very low back (almost in the tailbone), abdominal pain, headaches, and proximal leg pain. His family history was unremarkable. On examination he was a tall, thin built male with upper segment to lower segment (US: LS) ratio of 0.85, arm span more than height, and had hyperteloric facies, dolichocephalic skull [Figure 1], and retrognathia. His left eye sported a divergent squint with bluish sclera. His lower back showed stretch marks (striae atrophicae). He also had arachnodactyly [Figure 2], pectus carinatum ­[Figure 3], scoliotic spine, and a right-sided indirect inguinal hernia. He was hemodynamically stable and auscultation revealed crepts and occasional rhonchi on the left side. Examination of other systems was normal. But for the exotropia, ophthalmological exam was normal (ectopia lentis was absent). His sputum tested positive for acid fast bacilli and CT chest was suggestive of pulmonary Koch's related fibrocavitatory lesions and cystic bronchiectasis with atelectasis of left upper lobe. X-rays confirmed the bony abnormalities. 2D Echo demonstrated myxomatous mitral valve with mild prolapse, dilated aortic root, mild aortic, and tricuspid regurgitation with mild pulmonary arterial hypertension. Having diagnosed of Marfan's syndrome with sputum positive pulmonary Koch's he was started on antituberculous therapy.
Figure 1: X-ray skull showing dolichocephaly

Click here to view
Figure 2: Patient's hands displaying arachnodactyly with contractures

Click here to view
Figure 3: Pectus carinatum

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


Our patient characteristically qualified the 2010 revised Ghent nosology [2] (aortic criteria and systemic score greater than 7; negative family history) for the diagnosis of MfS. However there were some unusually noteworthy associations that are discussed.

A case was reported where-in the upper lobe fibrosis, bronchiectasis, emphysematous changes, multiple blebs, small pneumothorax, pleural fibrosis, and pleural thickening were misdiagnosed as to be of tuberculous etiology. The cultures being negative for MTB (mycobacterium tuberculosis) it was later comprehended that the spectrum of such presentation was actually that of MfS. [3] A similar presentation was seen in our case but the sputum being positive for AFB incriminates tuberculosis as causative factor although a reasonable degree of overlap of MfS may also be present. MfS complicated by fibro-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis and aspergillosis has also been reported. [4]

A study reported that the incidence of strabismus in MfS is 19.2% with exotropia (divergent squint) in 11.7%. [5] The higher prevalence of strabismus in MfS is postulated to be due to the abnormal afferent visual inputs to cortical centers caused by ectopia lentis, craniofacial abnormalities, and ­mechanical and genetic factors. Our patient sported exotropia but characteristically lacked ectopia lentis (usually present in 50-80% of MfS). Blue sclera, an inconstant sign of MfS, was also seen in our patient.

The raised right ventricular systolic pressure (42 mm of Hg) and tricuspid regurgitation in our patient may be the consequences of long-standing lung disease with some contribution from his mitral valve prolapse (MVP incidence in MfS of about 50%). [6] Severe PAH has been reported secondary to MVP. [7] His characteristic aortic root dilatation warrants regular follow-up with 2D echo. A case of MfS was reported which featured the Moya Moya phenomenon with aortic dissection. [8]

Among the bony abnormalities, protrusio acetabuli (an incidence in MfS of 31%) [9] is one of the striking features in our case. On an anterior--posterior (AP) pelvic film, medial protrusion of the acetabulum ≥3 mm beyond the ilio-ischial (Kohler) line is diagnostic. Its presence is not known to correlate with the bone mineral content of the hip and pelvis or with clinical symptoms. Our patient typically demonstrated the wrist and thumb signs (positive arachnodactyly), dolicocephaly (cephalic index of 70), scoliosis, pectus carinatum, and dolichostenomelia. The arm span to height ratio in our patient was exaggerated (1.2) and is mostly secondary to the scoliosis.

Stria atrophicae were found in mid back, lumbar region, upper arm, and axillary region. Elastic fibre fragmentation has been incriminated as to the etiopathology. Indirect inguinal hernia in our patient, although not one of cardinal feature mentioned in Ghent nosology, highlights the inherent connective tissue deficiency.

The vague symptoms of aching in the tailbone, headaches, proximal leg pain in our patient are due to dural ectasia (incidence in MfS of 63 to 92% although not very specific) confirmed on MRI. [10] The symptoms are worse when sitting or standing upright for too long, and are only rarely relieved by recumbency.


  Conclusion Top


Our case exemplifies the need for clinicians to be aware of the plethora of unorthodox manifestations of Marfan syndrome and calls for a high index of suspicion in diagnosing the same. Such knowledge helps brace oneself to deal with the complications and bolsters our management strategies.


  Acknowledgment Top


We thank our colleagues and staff of internal medicine.

 
  References Top

1.Loeys B, Nuytinck L, Delvaux I, De Bie S, De Paepe A. Genotype and phenotype analysis of 171 patients referred for molecular study of the fibrillin-1 gene FBN1 because of suspected Marfan syndrome. Arch Intern Med 2001;161:2447-54.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.Loeys BL, Dietz HC, Braverman AC, Callewaert BL, De Backer J, Devereux RB, et al. The revised Ghent nosology for the Marfan syndrome. J Med Genet 2010;47:476.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.Gupta PP, Gupta KB, Gulia JS, Yadav R, Kumar S, Agarwal D. Apical pulmonary lesions due to Marfan syndrome misdiagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis. N Z Med J 2010;123:67-72.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.Tsukerman GIa, Shmelev EN, Kovalev MD. Marfan's syndrome complicated by fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis and aspergillosis. Probl Tuberk 1982 Nov;(11):72-3.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.Izquierdo NJ, Traboulsi EI, Enger C, Maumenee IH. Strabismus in the Marfan syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1994;117:632-5.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.Faivre L, Collod-Beroud G, Loeys BL, Child A, Binquet C, Gautier E, et al. Effect of mutation type and location on clinical outcome in 1013 probands with Marfan syndrome or related phenotypes and FBN1 mutations: An international study. Am J Hum Genet 2007;81:454.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.Tago K, Ishikawa S, Satoh Y, Ohtaki A, Sakata K, Takahashi T, et al. Mitral valve prolapse associated with severe pulmonary hypertension: A case report. Kyobu Geka 1997;50:789-91.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.Terada T, Yokote H, Tsuura M, Nakai K, Ohshima A, Itakura T. Marfan syndrome associated with moyamoya phenomenon and aortic dissection. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1999;141:663-5.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.Do T, Giampietro PF, Burke SW, Davis JG, Raggio C, Schneider R, et al. The incidence of protrusio acetabuli in Marfan's syndrome and its relationship to bone mineral density. J Pediatr Orthop 2000;20:718-21.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.Ho NC, Hadley DW, Jain PK, Francomano CA. Case 47: Dural ectasia associated with Marfan syndrome. Radiology 2002;223:767-71.  Back to cited text no. 10
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Case Report
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgment
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed6541    
    Printed275    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded368    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal