Abstract
Sturge–Weber syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome defined by the association
of a facial angioma in the ophthalmic distribution of the trigeminal nerve, with ipsilateral
glaucoma, and leptomeningeal angioma. This syndrome is suspected early at birth because
of facial angioma in the trigeminal nerve area. Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium
enhancement is today the gold standard technique to visualize the leptomeningeal angioma
or to show its indirect signs before the development of neurological signs. The prognosis
of Sturge–Weber syndrome is related to the severity of neurological signs that usually
develop after birth later in life (epilepsy, hemiparesis, and intellectual disability).
Seizures are often the first neurological symptom with frequently inaugurating status
epilepticus that remains frequent in infancy. Repetitive seizures and status epilepticus
might increase the brain atrophy in regard to the leptomeningeal angioma. Preventive
presymptomatic antiepileptic therapy is thought to be preventive and might be recommended.
Training of parents to the use of rescue benzodiazepine in case of seizures is mandatory.
Surgery should be considered in patients intractable to antiepileptic drugs.
Keywords
facial angioma - pial angioma - leptomeningeal angioma - epilepsy - port-wine stain
- status epilepticus - trigeminal nerve
