Arachnodactyly (Marfan's Syndrome) with a Report of Two Cases

Arachnodactyly is only a small part of the Marfan syndrome. In addition to the skeletal changes, gross myotonia and ocular abnormalities including lens dislocation are encountered in a high proportion of cases. Serious cardio-vascular abnormalities including dissecting aneurysms of the aorta are encountered and these are common causes of death. Cases of Marfan's syndrome in a boy of 14 and a woman of 44 are described, the latter dying from cardiac failure due to multiple aneurysms of the aorta and aortic incompetence.