Marfan's Syndrome is a disorder which affects many organs – for connective tissue is present everywhere in our bodies, being the basic and supportive structure for all organs. In addition, a major part of the connective tissue cells also have immune competence – i.e. the connective tissue plays an important role in the body's defence mechanisms against pathogenes (e.g. disease-causing agents such as bacteria or viruses). Thus for many patients is is not only the three main organ systems (cardio-vascular system, muscular-skeletal system, eyes) which are affect, but many others more. Some sufferers have to undergo regular tests performed by a great variety of medical specialist. Regular therapy is necessary for a relatively painfree life.
These therapies mostly address symptoms – i.e. they will not remove the course of the complaint. But without regular treatment, a person affected by Marfan's Syndrome would be condemned to a rapid progression of his condition. Since MfS affects many organs, the symptoms from various organ systems usually have a negative effect on each other – i.e. they will enhance and mutually amplify each other, in contrast to symptoms resulting from just one organ system.
Persons affected by Marfan's Syndrome are often forced to spend a lot of time for their extremely extensive health management, time which other people may use for recreation purposes.
An additional negative effect is that because of the basically weak connective tissue many forms of therapy (e.g. surgery) will not produce sustainable results. Scars from operations usually do not heal well, and complaints keep returning (re-occurrence, recidivism). Marfan sufferers are therefore often guaranteed candidates for futile therapeutic action. Quite often this means that, particularly with practitioners unfamiliar with Marfan's Syndrome, they will meet with a certain lack of understanding for their manifold complaints.