June 20, 2004:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Autopsy on FSU woman supports initial findings
Sep 16, 2004. pg. 8.C

>>> From article <<<

The final autopsy on Florida State women's basketball player Ronalda Pierce supports the preliminary findings that a genetic disorder led to a fatal aortic rupture in June. She was 19.

"The findings favor a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome," wrote Dr. Stephen Sarbeck, the medical examiner who handled the case.

The report, obtained Wednesday through a public-records request by the Times, pointed out that Pierce had some of the unseen indicators: An umbrella-like ballooning of the mitral valve of the heart and, perhaps most telling although not 100 percent conclusive, the mutation of the gene (Fibrillin-1) that's known to cause Marfan syndrome.

Dr. Alan Braverman, a cardiologist and professor at Washington University's School of Medicine who's director of its Marfan syndrome clinic, said the DNA analysis also should prompt Pierce's immediate family to be genetically tested.

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June 8, 2004:
An athlete from Florida State University basketball player Ronalda Pierce has died suddenly of what may be undiagnosed Marfan's. The President of the OCNMF has sent condolences to the Pierce family and Florida State University. If you are interested in sending your condolences you may do so at: http://seminoles.collegesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/Pierce-tribute-index.html


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Winter 2004:
Information & blood samples gathered at last year's chapter meeting has help to provide researcher Kynn Sakai & Susan Hayflick with some very exciting data that may help develop a test that can be used to compare the quantity of fibrillin-1 fragments in samples from mild and severe Marfan syndrome and other types of cardiovascular diseases to determine its usefulness as a future diagnostic test and its ability to monitor disease progression.  We want to thank all who attendend & contributed to this very important work!  For additional info see a copy of the summary that appeared in the Winter Edition of "Connective Issues" see the Research page.

This page was last updated on: September 4, 2005

2004 Archives
June 20, 2004:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Autopsy on FSU woman supports initial findings
Sep 16, 2004. pg. 8.C

>>> From article <<<

The final autopsy on Florida State women's basketball player Ronalda Pierce supports the preliminary findings that a genetic disorder led to a fatal aortic rupture in June. She was 19.

"The findings favor a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome," wrote Dr. Stephen Sarbeck, the medical examiner who handled the case.

The report, obtained Wednesday through a public-records request by the Times, pointed out that Pierce had some of the unseen indicators: An umbrella-like ballooning of the mitral valve of the heart and, perhaps most telling although not 100 percent conclusive, the mutation of the gene (Fibrillin-1) that's known to cause Marfan syndrome.

Dr. Alan Braverman, a cardiologist and professor at Washington University's School of Medicine who's director of its Marfan syndrome clinic, said the DNA analysis also should prompt Pierce's immediate family to be genetically tested.

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
June 8, 2004:
An athlete from Florida State University basketball player Ronalda Pierce has died suddenly of what may be undiagnosed Marfan's. The President of the OCNMF has sent condolences to the Pierce family and Florida State University. If you are interested in sending your condolences you may do so at: http://seminoles.collegesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/Pierce-tribute-index.html


******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Winter 2004:
Information & blood samples gathered at last year's chapter meeting has help to provide researcher Kynn Sakai & Susan Hayflick with some very exciting data that may help develop a test that can be used to compare the quantity of fibrillin-1 fragments in samples from mild and severe Marfan syndrome and other types of cardiovascular diseases to determine its usefulness as a future diagnostic test and its ability to monitor disease progression.  We want to thank all who attendend & contributed to this very important work!  For additional info see a copy of the summary that appeared in the Winter Edition of "Connective Issues" see the Research page.