After initial clinical evaluation, a patient presenting with sudden, painful erythematous lesions on the face and neck was urgently referred to the dermatology department. Upon consultation, the medical team opted to discontinue the patient’s recently prescribed medication. A comprehensive diagnostic workup was initiated, including a skin biopsy, a complete blood count, and laboratory testing for antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, and various serology markers. To manage symptoms, the patient began a regimen of oral corticosteroids.
Within 48 hours of treatment, the intensity of the skin lesions diminished noticeably and the associated pain subsided. Laboratory results confirmed the presence of leukocytosis accompanied by neutrophilia, as well as the presence of antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, while routine serology tests yielded negative results. Twenty days later, the pathology report from the skin biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of Sweet syndrome.
Sweet syndrome, medically known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is a rare dermatological condition categorized among the neutrophilic dermatoses. It is defined histopathologically by the presence of dense neutrophil infiltrates within the tissue. Clinically, the syndrome manifests as the sudden appearance of painful, erythematous papules or plaques. These lesions typically appear asymmetrically on the face, neck, upper trunk, and hands. The condition is often accompanied by systemic symptoms, including fever and significant leukocytosis with neutrophilia.
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