Atrial myxoma syndrome mimicking Ehrmann-Sneddon syndrome

Dermatology. 1997;195(4):404-7. doi: 10.1159/000246000.

Abstract

Livedo racemosa with cerebrovascular lesions has been described as Ehrmann-Sneddon syndrome. The etiopathogenetic factors provoking the vascular lesions, however, are of high diversity reaching from mechanical to autoimmune causes. We present a male patient with typical livedo racemosa, muscle pain and feeling of coldness of the forearms. By dermatohistopathology and magnetic resonance tomography of the brain, Ehrmann-Sneddon syndrome could be confirmed. At this time a chronic streptococcal infection could be diagnosed. Antibiotics, anticoagulants and vascularity-supplying therapy improved the clinical and subjective symptoms. Six months later, the patient developed dizziness, vision disorder, hypesthesia of the right forehead, malaise and weight loss. A further diagnostic workup including echocardiography revealed a myxoma of the left atrium. This report illustrates the association of Ehrmann-Sneddon syndrome with cardiac myxoma and points out that cardiac diagnostic examination should be included when dealing with small-vessel involvement of the brain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Brain Stem / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Myxoma / complications
  • Myxoma / diagnosis*
  • Myxoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Parietal Lobe / pathology
  • Penicillins / therapeutic use
  • Pentoxifylline / therapeutic use
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Sneddon Syndrome / complications
  • Sneddon Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Syndrome
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Penicillins
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Aspirin
  • Pentoxifylline