Medical Must-See: Doctors face a diagnosis out of left field
The condition, named after a clown, was no joke for this patient.
Turkish doctors have diagnosed a 43-year-old woman with Harlequin syndrome — a rare condition that causes one side of the face to flush and sweat while the other remains entirely unaffected.
Harlequin syndrome takes its name from commedia dell’arte, a historical theatre form, and the character Harlequin, famed for his half-red costume.
For five years, the patient had experienced flushing and perspiration exclusively on the left side of her face, often triggered by physical exertion or emotional stress.
Beyond a 20 pack-year smoking history, her medical history was unremarkable.
