Sturge-Weber syndrome: presentation with partial hypopituitarism

Abstract

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare disorder involving central nervous system abnormalities. It manifests with a facial port-wine birthmark and a vascular malformation of the brain. Infants and children present with seizures and stroke-like episodes with focal neurologic deficits. Patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome carry the additional risk of developing hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, secondary to their central nervous system dysfunction. Although one would suspect the hypothalamic-pituitary axis would be at risk for impairment given the abnormalities that often occur in Sturge-Weber syndrome, they are not commonly recognized by clinicians. Increased awareness of this potential complication in patients with this rare disease of Sturge-Weber syndrome is needed. We hereby report a case of SWS with partial hypopituitarism and consider it to be important that these patients should undergo routine evaluation of pituitary function in the face of any relevant clinical manifestations.