A retrospective analysis of Sweet's syndrome in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal: A BPKIHS perspective

Abstract

Sweet's syndrome (the eponym for acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) is characterized by a constellation of clinical symptoms, physical features, and pathologic findings which include fever, neutrophilia, tender erythematous skin lesions (papules, nodules, and plaques), and a diffuse infiltrate consisting predominantly of mature neutrophils that are typically located in the upper dermis without vasculitis.

To study the clinico-pathological features, clinical course and treatment of patients with sweets syndrome. A retrospective observational analysis of 12 diagnosed cases of sweet’s syndrome attending and admitted in the Department of Dermatology from June 2003- April 2009 were considered in this study.

The study comprised of 9 females and 3 males (3:1) between the age group of 22-73 years. Typical lesions of sweets syndrome were present in all cases and the duration of illness ranged from 3-8 days. Constitutional symptoms of fever, pain and malaise were present in all and the extremities were the most common site of involvement 12 (100%). Leucocytosis was present in 7 (58.3%), raised ESR in 9 (75%) and raised C reactive protein in 7(58.3%) patients. Characteristic histological features were recorded in specimens of all patients. 9 (75%) patients responded promptly to systemic oral corticosteroids while 3 (25%) were treated with intravenous steroids. Complete Response was seen in 7 (58.3%), partial response in 5 (41.6%) and recurrence in 1(8.3%) patient after therapy.

Characteristic skin lesion, histopathological diagnosis and relevant abnormal laboratory parameters can act as a useful diagnostic tool in patients with sweet’s syndrome.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v7i3.6703

Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2011, Vol-7, No-3, 17-23