LUMBAR SPINE IN MARFAN-SYNDROME

Lumbar spine radiographs of 28 patients with Marfan syndrome and a gen der and age-matched control group were evaluated for scoliosis and mor phologic changes of the L2, L3, and L4 vertebrae. No patient or contro l subject had any serious low back problems. The Marfan patients showe d a high incidence of scoliosis (64%). The incidence of lumbosacral tr ansitional vertebra was also high (18%). The end plates of the vertebr al bodies in the Marfan patients were more biconcave than in the contr ol group. In addition, the transverse processes were longer in relatio n to the vertebral body width in the Marfan group than in the controls . These findings indicate that biconcave vertebral bodies can be added to the list of skeletal manifestations of the Marfan syndrome, and Ma rfan syndrome to the list of differential diagnoses for biconcave vert ebrae (''codfish vertebrae'').