Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a neurological disorder marked by a distinctive port-wine stain on the forehead, scalp, or around the eye.
This stain is a birthmark caused by an overabundance of capillaries near the surface of the skin. Blood vessels on the same side of the brain as the stain may also be affected.
A large number of people with SWS experience seizures or convulsions. Other complications may include increased pressure in the eye, developmental delays, and weakness on one side of the body.
The medical term for SWS is encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders,
SWS occurs in one of every estimated 20,000 to 50,000 live births. Approximately 1 in 1,000 babies is born with a port-wine stain. However, only 6 percent of those babies have symptoms associated with SWS.
The most apparent indication of SWS is a port-wine stain, or red and discolored skin on one side of the face. The discoloration is due to dilated blood vessels in the face that make the skin appear reddened.
Not everyone with a port-wine stain has SWS, but all children with SWS have a port-wine stain. A child must have the port-wine stain and abnormal blood vessels in the brain on the same side as the stain to be diagnosed with SWS.
In some children, abnormal vessels don’t cause any symptoms. In others, they can cause the following symptoms:
- developmental delays
- cognitive impairment
- seizures
- weakness on one side of the body
- paralysis
Glaucoma
According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, an estimated 50 percent of children with SWS develop glaucoma during infancy or later in childhood.
Glaucoma is an eye disease often caused by increased pressure in the eye. This can cause vision impairment, sensitivity to light, and eye pain.
Though SWS is present at birth, it isn’t an inherited condition. Instead, it’s the result of a random mutation in the GNAQ gene.
The blood vessel formations associated with SWS start when a baby is in the womb. Around the sixth week of development, a network of nerves develops around the area that will become a baby’s head.
Normally, this network goes away in the ninth week of development. In babies with SWS, however, this network of nerves doesn’t go away. This reduces the amount of oxygen and blood flowing to the brain, which can affect brain tissue development.
Doctors can often diagnose SWS based on the symptoms that are present. Babies with SWS may not always be born with the characteristic port-wine stain. However, they often develop the birthmark shortly after birth.
If your child’s doctor suspects that your child may have SWS, they’ll order imaging tests, such as CT and MRI scans. These tests produce detailed images of the brain, allowing the doctor to look for signs of brain damage.
They’ll also perform eye tests to check for the presence of glaucoma and other eye abnormalities.
Treatment for SWS can vary depending on the symptoms a child is experiencing. It may consist of:
- anticonvulsant medications, which can reduce seizure activity
- eye drops, which can decrease eye pressure
- surgery, which can relieve glaucoma symptoms
- physical therapy, which can strengthen weak muscles
- educational therapies, which can help children with developmental delays to advance as much as possible
If your child wishes to reduce the appearance of a port-wine stain, laser treatments may be used. It’s important to note, however, that these treatments may not completely remove the birthmark.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 80 percent of children with SWS also have seizures.
Additionally, 25 percent of those children have full seizure control, 50 percent have partial seizure control, and 25 percent have no seizure control from medication.
Most children with SWS have a port-wine stain and brain abnormalities that affect only one side of the brain. In some children, however, both sides of the brain may be affected.
These children are more likely to experience developmental delays and cognitive impairment.
SWS can affect children in different ways. Some children may experience seizure disorders and severe development delays. Other children may not have any symptoms other than a noticeable port-wine stain.
Talk to a doctor to learn more about your child’s specific outlook based on their symptoms.