Sneddon Syndrome, About a Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Sneddon's syndrome is a rare condition characterized by livedo and multiple ischemic strokes with no apparent cause. This report presents a case of a 34-year-old woman with a 16-year history of livedo who developed right hemibody heaviness, a decrease in visual acuity, and palpitations. The MRI showed bilateral parieto-occipital cortico-subcortical atrophy associated with abnormal signals in the deep white matter, parieto-occipital gliosis foci, and small-caliber artery vasculitis. The patient was eventually diagnosed with Sneddon's syndrome based on her clinical presentation, MRI results, and symptom evolution. The underlying mechanisms of the syndrome remain unclear, but it is thought to involve occlusion of small- and medium-sized arterioles. The neurological involvement of Sneddon's syndrome is highly diverse and dominated by cerebral ischemic events, leading over time to intellectual deterioration or even dementia. This report highlights the importance of considering Sneddon's syndrome as a differential diagnosis in cases of livedo and unexplained cerebral ischemia.