Related Experiment Videos
Sneddon's syndrome with granulomatous leptomeningeal infiltration
R L Boortz-Marx1, H B Clark, S Taylor
1Department of Neurology, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
Background:
There is limited neuropathologic information available from cases of Sneddon's syndrome in which strokes are associated with livedo reticularis. Pathogenesis of the syndrome is controversial, although current opinion favors a coagulopathy, often with antiphospholipid antibodies. We describe a case lacking antiphospholipid antibodies but having a granulomatous infiltration of the leptomeninges.
Case Description:
The patient presented at age 29 with stroke, livedo reticularis, essential hypertension, and Raynaud's phenomenon. Assessment uncovered no underlying disease, including absent antiphospholipid antibodies. A leptomeningeal biopsy showed granulomatous infiltration.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that an inflammatory process plays a role in at least some cases of Sneddon's syndrome.