h1 arrowSturge-Weber Syndrome Center: What is SWS?


Child with Sturge-weber syndrome Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is the association of a facial port-wine birthmark with abnormal vessels on the surface of the brain, glaucoma, or both. Some people have an isolated intracranial variant, meaning abnormal brain blood vessels with no skin or eye symptoms. SWS does NOT generally run in families. It can affect one side (in about 85%) or both sides (in about 15%) of the body or brain.

The presence of a port-wine birthmark involving the forehead or upper eyelid raises the suspicion of SWS. These infants and children must be followed closely for other medical issues, including vision problems, epilepsy, and developmental delays.

Though we do not know what causes SWS, treatments are available for many of the complications of the disease. More research is needed to understand the causes of SWS, how to treat it, and how to prevent the medical and developmental problems resulting from it. For a summary of features and some of the characteristics we know are associated with SWS, click here.


Diagnosing SWS