The danger of aortic dissection in women with Marfan syndrome can be compounded by the hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. This article describes the successful medical and surgical management of a pregnant woman with Marfan syndrome. The complicated psychosocial issues associated with high-risk pregnancy and delivery and the need for accurate interdisciplinary communication are also discussed.

The physiological changes of pregnancy can greatly exaggerate preexisting health conditions in the mother. One such condition is Marfan syndrome, a genetically inherited disorder characterized by weakened connective tissue. Persons with Marfan syndrome are very tall with disproportionately long extremities and are characterized by arachnodactyly and lax joints predisposed to dislocation. Marfan syndrome can lead to dislocation of the ocular lens, as well as weakness of the aortic root and aortic wall.1 The danger of aortic dissection in women with Marfan syndrome can be compounded by the hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. In pregnant women...

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