MarfanLife.net | News blog

Entrez PubMed: “Usefulness of enalapril versus propranolol or atenolol for prevention of aortic dilation in patients with the marfan syndrome.

Yetman AT, Bornemeier RA, McCrindle BW.”

Coast Range community pulls together: “One of the best things about living in the Coast Range is the way people really pull together to help those in times of trouble. Right now, there are a couple of people experiencing medical crises. The community is rallying to their aid.”

Diagnostic power of aortic elastic properties in young patients with Marfan syndrome.: “We sought to quantify aortic wall dysfunction noninvasively, determine the diagnostic power of various aortic parameters, and establish a diagnostic model for the early detection of aortic abnormalities associated with Marfan syndrome.” [Abstract only]

Management of aortic disease in marfan syndrome: a decision analysis.: CONCLUSIONS: Although long-term follow-up data are not yet available, it appears that advances in the technique of valve-sparing surgery have made it the preferred option to composite graft, primarily to avoid the complications of anticoagulation. Our study indicates that patients who have an aortic root diameter of larger than 3.0 cm should be considered for prophylactic aortic surgery.

The bolded statement needs to be taken extremely seriously. Also, keep in mind that there are many risks associated with any type of surgery. -Jeanette

Testing needs to improve nationwide:
New mind-set could help athletes like VU’s Harris: “Advance testing could prevent 80 percent of these attacks, according to Munster High School athletic trainer John Doherty. In Italy, for example, all competitive athletes take these tests regularly.

Doherty isn’t pointing a finger at VU for the Harris situation. He’s pointing a finger at the entire country.

‘It would take a major shift in the political will of this country,’ Doherty said. ‘They don’t have as many cardiac arrests as here, and we have more African-Americans. So we should be testing like the Italians. We don’t. I think there’s a chance that Kenny’s situation could’ve been caught.’”

Playbill News: HeARTworks Benefit to Feature Savion Glover and Casts of Lion King, Mamma Mia! and Good Vibrations: “Heartworks Benefit to Feature Savion Glover and Casts of Lion King, Mamma Mia! and Good Vibrations”