DISSECTING ANEURYSM COMPLICATING MARFANS SYNDROME (ARACHNODACTYLY) IN A MOTHER AND SON

Few reports of dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta among close relatives have appeared in the literature and in only one previous report was this described in association with Marfan's syndrome. Reported are the cases of a mother and son, each with Marfan's syndrome (arachnodactyly) and dissecting aneurysm of the aorta. In the mother, dissecting aneurysm occurred when she was 30 years old and pregnant with her third offspring. Death occurred at the age of 31 years after aortic insufficiency and congestive cardiac failure had developed. The son was the second offspring and died of acute dissecting aneurysm when he was 13 years old. In the son, interchordal protrusions of the leaflets of the tricuspid and mitral valves were considered manifestations of Marfan's syndrome. Mitral insufficiency had been identified clinically. © 1969.