title: Sneddon's syndrome with granulomatous leptomeningeal infiltration.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Boortz-Marx
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wesa
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001099:Arachnoid / Q000473:pathology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000473:pathology*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000473:pathology; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D013577:Syndrome