A Case with Sneddon's Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Sneddon's syndrome is characterized by livedo racemosa and multiple brain infarcts. Patients with Sneddon's syndrome typically present with neurological dysfunction in early adulthood. While cerebrovascular events such as ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks comprise the major neurological sequelae of Sneddon's syndrome, many patients suffer protean symptoms, such as headache or dizziness, prior to focal cerebral injury. Hemiparesis, hemisensory symptoms, dysphasia, and visual symptoms are common. Objective: We report the case ofa young woman with Sneddon's syndrome to discuss some features of the disease. Results: She had a history of seizure, headache and hypertension (HT). She had suffered an episode of transient ischemic attack (amarosis fugax). Physical examination disclosed livedo rasemosa affecting her buttocks and limbs, and left higher quadrant-anopsia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple ischemic lesions in the cortico-subcortical regions. Conclusion: We presented the case, because Sneddon's syndrome is a rare cause of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Asa result, reticular type erythematous skin lesions when associated with multiple cerebral infarcts on MRI in a-especially young- patient should raise the suspicion of Sneddon's syndrome. Finally, patients diagnosed with Sneddon's syndrome are to be screened for antiphospholipid antibodies, because of importance of these antibodies in the decision of treatment.