Korean J Med.  2005 Sep;69(3):313-317.

A case of Sweet's syndrome associated with ulcerative colitis

• Lee JH
• Kim HY
• Kim HS
• Lee JH
• Lee ES
• Jang JS
• Yoo JY

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is associated with various cutaneous manifestations such as erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum. Sweet's syndrome is a rare cutaneous manifestation of ulcerative colitis, and is characterized by tender, red inflammatory plaques or papules, usually affecting the upper limbs, face or neck. We experienced a 68-year-old man with ulcerative colitis who presented general weakness, multiple skin lesions and bloody loose stool. The skin lesions are erythematous, tender plaques on the face, and discrete ulcers with pustules on the extremities and back. The skin biopsy from the lesion on the chin revealed a dense inflammatory cell infiltration composed predominantly of neutrophils in the dermis without leucocytoclastic vasculitis. He was diagnosed as Sweet's syndrome and pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis. After nine days of oral steroid and steroid enema therapy, the skin lesions and intestinal symptoms were improved markedly.

Keyword

Sweet's syndrome; Pyoderma gangrenosum; Colitis, Ulcerative

MeSH Terms

Aged
Biopsy
Chin
Colitis, Ulcerative*
Dermis
Enema
Erythema Nodosum
Extremities
Humans
Neck
Neutrophils
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Skin
Sweet Syndrome*
Ulcer*
Upper Extremity
Vasculitis