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Signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome depend on which parts of the body are affected and the severity of the condition. Some people have few or no signs or symptoms, while others experience severe symptoms or life-threatening complications.

If you have a known family history of Marfan syndrome or physical features of the condition, your doctor may recommend screening to find the condition early. Relatives of people who have Marfan syndrome may also want to have genetic screening. There is no way to prevent Marfan syndrome.

Marfan syndrome is a genetic condition caused by a mutation, or change, in one of your genes, called the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene. The FBN1 gene makes fibrillin-1, which is a protein that forms elastic fibers within connective tissue. Fibrillin-1 also affects levels of another protein that helps control how you grow.

Pleural disorders may occur with no symptoms, or they may have obvious symptoms. Signs, symptoms, and complications vary depending on the pleural disorder and how severe it is.

You may have an increased risk for a pleural disorder because of your age, your family history and genetics, your lifestyle habits, medicines you take, other medical conditions, and your sex.

Pleural disorders may be caused by inflammation, injury, or an imbalance of fluids in the pleural space.

The types of pleural disorders are pleural effusion, pleurisy, and pneumothorax. Pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the pleural space. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura. Pneumothorax occurs when air or other gas builds up in the pleural space and may cause part or all of the lung to collapse.

It may be possible for your doctor to diagnose the type of vasculitis that you have and how severe or advanced it is. Depending on your signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend you to a specialist for tests or do diagnostic tests or procedures.

Your risk for a specific type of vasculitis may be higher because of your age, your family history and genetics, infections you have, your lifestyle habits, medicines you take, other medical conditions you have, your race or ethnicity, and your sex.

Vasculitis occurs when your immune system injures your blood vessels by mistake. What causes this to happen is not fully known, but when it occurs, your blood vessels become inflamed and can narrow or close off. Rarely, the blood vessel wall may weaken, causing it to expand or bulge. This bulge is known as an aneurysm.