Korean J Med.  2008 Oct;75(4):463-466.

A case of Sweet syndrome involving the central nervous system

• Jung HY
• Kim SK
• Park KW
• Park CY
• Chung SH
• Park SH
• Choe JY

Abstract

Sweet syndrome is an unusual disease characterized by the sudden onset of fever, leukocytosis, and painful erythematous plaques, and the dermal infiltration of neutrophils at the site of skin lesions. Although Sweet syndrome can also present with extra-cutaneous manifestations, involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is rarely reported. We describe a case of Sweet syndrome involving the CNS in a 46-year-old male with a disturbance of consciousness following fever and erythematous skin plaques in the extremities. Cerebrospinal fluid examination disclosed neutrophilic pleocytosis without decreased glucose and protein levels. HLA typing showed B54, which is frequently seen in Sweet syndrome. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal signal intensity lesions in the left temporal lobe. Skin biopsy revealed a dense dermal infiltration of neutrophils, which is compatible with Sweet syndrome. The confused mentality, fever, and erythematous skin plaques resolved after the administration of systemic corticosteroids.

Keyword

Sweet syndrome; Central nervous system

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Brain
Central Nervous System
Consciousness
Extremities
Fever
Glucose
Histocompatibility Testing
Humans
Leukocytosis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Neutrophils
Skin
Sweet Syndrome
Temporal Lobe
Glucose