Marfan syndrome is a systemic disorder of the connective tissue inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The disorder imparts significant morbidity and mortality. The etiology of the disorder remains elusive. A recent study localized the gene for Marfan syndrome on chromosome 15. We present data showing that marker DISS48 is genetically linked to Marfan syndrome. Pairwise linkage analysis gave a maximum lod (logarithm of odds) score of Z = 11.78 at 0 = 0.02. Furthermore our data suggest that the Marfan syndrome locus is possibly flanked on either side by DISS48 and DISS49.Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissue, characterized by cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, ocular, and pulmonary abnormalities (1). This condition is estimated to have a prevalence of4-6 per 100,000 individuals, imparts significant morbidity, and if untreated, reduces significantly the life expectancy (2 tTo whom reprint requests should be addressed.
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