Skip to main content
. 2021 Nov 26;23(11):81. doi: 10.1007/s11926-021-01045-3

In the absence of a family history, Marfan syndrome can be diagnosed by:

  1. Aortic dilation (Z score ≥ 2 SD+) AND ectopia lentis*

  2. Aortic dilation (Z score ≥ 2 SD) AND FBN1 mutation

  3. Aortic dilation (Z score ≥ 2 SD) AND Systemic Score ≥ 7 points*

  4. Ectopia lentis AND FBN1 mutation associated with known aortic dilation

In the presence of a family history of MFS, MFS can be diagnosed by the presence of:

  5. Ectopia lentis

  6. Systemic Score ≥ 7 points*

  7. Aortic dilation (Z score ≥ 2 SD when above 20 years of age, ≥ 3 SD when below 20 years of age)*

+ the Z score is the population score adjusted for surface body area

*Caveat: without discriminating features of Shprintzen Goldberg, Loeys-Dietz, or vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Other related conditions:

Ectopia lentis syndrome: isolated ectopia lentis with no FBN1 mutation or FBN1 mutation not thought to be associated with aortic dilation

MASS phenotype: mitral valve prolapse, stable mild aortic dilation (upper limit of normal), skin striae, with at least one skeletal feature without ectopia lentis

Marfan-like body habitus: Systemic Score ≥ 7 without any other features of MFS