Marfan Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Marfan Syndrome, including details on genetics, causes, symptoms, treatment.

Obstetric complications in Marfan syndrome.

Meijboom LJ, Drenthen W, Pieper PG, Groenink M, van der Post JA, Timmermans J, Voors AA, Roos-Hesselink JW, van Veldhuisen DJ, Mulder BJ,

Department of Cardiology, Rm B2-240, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, and Department of Cardiology, Radboud Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the obstetric maternal and neonatal outcome of pregnancy in women with Marfan syndrome. METHODS: Retrospective observational multi-center study based on congenital heart disease registry. RESULTS: Sixty-three of the 122 enrolled women with Marfan syndrome had been pregnant 142 times (including 111 pregnancies>20 weeks, 28 (20%) miscarriages and 3 elective abortions). In 40% of all completed pregnancies an obstetric and/ or neonatal complication occurred. The most important complications were an increased percentage of premature deliveries (n=17, 15%) mainly due to preterm premature rupture of membranes and cervical incompetence and a markedly increased combined fetal and neonatal mortality of 7.1%. An obstetric and/or neonatal complication occurred in a similar proportion of pregnancies in women with a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome before pregnancy versus women with a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome after pregnancy (39% vs. 41%, p=0.85, respectively). CONCLUSION: In addition to cardiovascular complications, pregnancy in women with Marfan syndrome is associated with a high rate of premature deliveries, preterm premature rupture of membranes and increased mortality in the offspring.

Published 25 May 2006 in Int J Cardiol, 110(1): 53-9.
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