Nonsurgical Treatment for Marfan Syndrome

Doctors may prescribe medications that help prevent or slow the progression of problems with the aorta or manage pain associated with Marfan syndrome.

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers are oral medications that lower blood pressure, helping to prevent or slow the enlargement of the aorta. These medications may reduce the risk of an aortic dissection, which is a tear in the aortic wall, or an aortic aneurysm, which is a bulging of the aortic wall that can lead to rupture.

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers

Angiotensin receptor blockers, taken by mouth, relax blood vessels. This relaxation can ease blood flow, alleviate stress on the aorta, and reduce the risk of aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm.

Pain Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat joint pain or the pain of dural ectasia, a swelling of the membrane that surrounds the spinal cord. Sometimes an over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen, is recommended.

For some people with Marfan syndrome, assistive devices can help improve mobility or eyesight.

Orthopedic Braces

Marfan syndrome sometimes causes bones to form improperly. For scoliosis with a 20 to 40 percent curvature, nonsurgical treatments such as a personally fitted back brace may be recommended to prevent the condition from worsening. Curvatures of less than 20 percent may not warrant a brace, and curvatures of more than 40 percent may require surgery.

Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses

Marfan syndrome can cause the lenses of the eyes to dislocate, a condition called ectopia lentis. This can lead to nearsightedness or astigmatism—blurred vision caused by an irregularly curved eye.

If you develop ectopia lentis in one or both eyes, your doctor may recommend special eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision. An NYU Langone ophthalmologist can determine whether your eyes require aphakic glasses, which are thick prescription lenses that bypass the eye’s natural lens to magnify objects in the field of vision.

Another option is specially designed flat contact lenses or surgery to correct the dislocation of the eye lenses.