Sweet Syndrome: Understanding Its Causes, Symptoms, and Available Treatments
Neutrophils, white blood cells that serve as the immune system's first line of defence against infections, play a crucial role in a rare inflammatory skin disorder known as Sweet Syndrome.
Sweet Syndrome is characterised by the sudden appearance of painful, red or bluish bumps or lesions on a person's arms, legs, trunk, face, neck, and thighs. These bumps grow slowly and eventually join together to form larger plaques. People with Sweet Syndrome often have an elevated neutrophil count, making it easier for doctors to diagnose the condition.
The exact cause of Sweet Syndrome is not fully understood, but it is believed to be a "reactive" or allergic condition. There are three subtypes of the syndrome: idiopathic or classical Sweet Syndrome, malignancy-associated Sweet Syndrome, and drug-induced Sweet Syndrome.
In most cases, Sweet Syndrome has no known cause. However, it can be triggered by various factors such as infections, malignancies, autoimmune diseases, medications, and immune system overreactions. Bacterial and fungal infections, hematologic cancers like leukemia, conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and certain drugs like granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, antibiotics, antiepileptics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known triggers.
Malignancy-associated Sweet Syndrome may be caused by blood cancers. On the other hand, drug-induced Sweet Syndrome can be caused by a wide range of medications, including abacavir, furosemide, hydralazine, retinoids, and minocycline.
A dermatologist diagnoses Sweet Syndrome based on a detailed history, clinical evaluation, and observation of the classic symptoms. The person must have a sudden eruption of tender, painful nodules or plaques and neutrophilic infiltrate in the dermis for a diagnosis. At least two of the following criteria must also be present: a temperature greater than 38°C (100°F), an upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection precedes the condition, an elevated white blood cell count with a neutrophilic predominance and elevated inflammatory markers, and the person responds well to corticosteroids.
Sweet Syndrome may affect other organs such as the eyes, central nervous system, lungs, bones, kidneys, liver, and pancreas. People with Sweet Syndrome often have other symptoms accompanying the skin lesions, including malaise, muscle pain, and joint inflammation and pain.
The condition is more common in females than males and typically begins between the ages of 30 to 60. It is a rare inflammatory skin disorder, and lesions tend to return in 30% of people with Sweet Syndrome, often in people with an underlying malignancy.
Malfunctioning cytokines, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), may also play a role in the development of Sweet Syndrome. An unknown agent, such as a virus, bacteria, cancer, or drug, may trigger an allergic reaction from a hypersensitive or oversensitive immune system.
Sweet Syndrome was first described by Dr. Robert Douglas Sweet in 1964 and falls under neutrophilic dermatosis, a group of skin conditions characterised by the accumulation of neutrophils in the skin. If you suspect you may have Sweet Syndrome, it is essential to seek medical advice promptly for proper diagnosis and treatment.
- The exact cause of Sweet Syndrome might be a malfunctioning cytokine, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-17, or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which could suggest a potential link with predictive science in understanding this rare inflammatory skin disorder.
- Although Sweet Syndrome is mostly known for causing skin lesions, it can also affect other medical-conditions, such as the eyes, central nervous system, lungs, bones, kidneys, liver, and pancreas, indicating a broader impact on health-and-wellness.
- Certain medications can cause drug-induced Sweet Syndrome, including abacavir, furosemide, hydralazine, retinoids, and minocycline, which highlights the importance of considering a person's medication history in diagnosing and predicting the development of chronic-diseases like Sweet Syndrome.
- Sweet Syndrome is not limited to skin care; it may also indicate an underlying malignancy or autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach in managing and predicting this complex condition.
