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Case Reports
. 2017:2017:5342593.
doi: 10.1155/2017/5342593. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

Idiopathic Harlequin Syndrome Manifesting during Exercise: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Hussein Algahtani  1 , Bader Shirah  2 , Raghad Algahtani  3 , Abdulah Alkahtani  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Idiopathic Harlequin Syndrome Manifesting during Exercise: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Hussein Algahtani et al. Case Rep Med. 2017.

Abstract

Harlequin syndrome is a rare autonomic disorder characterized by unilateral facial flushing and sweating with contralateral anhidrosis induced by exercise, heat, and emotion. It is usually idiopathic but could be the first manifestation of several serious underlying medical conditions. Medical or surgical treatments are not required for idiopathic Harlequin syndrome, but social and psychological factors may indicate sympathectomy or botulinum toxin injection. In this article, we report a case of idiopathic Harlequin syndrome and review the literature.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram demonstrating the sympathetic innervation to the face with possible lesion sites. (1) = lesions within the pons, (2) = lesions within the spinal cord, (3) = lesions within the thoracic roots T1–T3, (4) = sympathetic chain between T1 and T2, (5) = stellate ganglion, (6) = sympathetic chain between stellate and middle cervical ganglion, (7) = sympathetic chain between middle and superior cervical ganglion, and (8) = sympathetic fibers traveling with the internal carotid artery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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