Cardiovascular, skeletal and ophthalmologic manifestations in patients with Marfan's syndrome

Cardiovascular, skeletal and ophthalmologic manifestations of Marfan's syndrome were evaluated in 36 patients with Marfan's syndrome, including 22 females and 14 males whose ages ranged from 3 to 70 years. The patients complained mainly of palpitations and chest pain. Mitral clicks and/or systolic murmurs were heard in 31 patients (86%); skeletal findings were found in 35 patients (97%) and ECG T-wave changes in 11 (30%). Chest X-rays showed cardiac enlargement in six patients (17%) and dilatation of the aorta in two (6%). Holter monitoring performed in 21 patients showed only a few premature atrial and ventricular beats in 4, although prolapse of the mitral valve was found in 18 patients. Echocardiography revealed mitral valve prolapse in 32 patients (89%), 21 females (95% of females) and 11 males (79% of males). Aortic root dilatation was found in 19 patients (53%). 11 males (79% of males) and 8 females (36% of females). This study demonstrates the variable clinical expression of Marfan's syndrome and the importance of clinical and noninvasive methods, mainly echocardiography, for its evaluation.