Sweet's syndrome associated with myelodysplasia: possible role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of the disease.
The clinical course of a 56-year-old female patient with Sweet's syndrome (SS) preceded by a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is described. During the acute phase of the disease with high remittent fever, painful skin lesions and maximal leucocytosis IL-6 and G-CSF serum levels were extremely high, while TNF-alpha was only slightly elevated and gamma-interferon and IL1-beta were not increased. On clinical improvement IL-6 serum levels rapidly fell, whereas G-CSF values already slightly elevated before the manifestation of the disease slowly declined. High G-CSF levels triggered by a yet unknown factor could explain the leucocytosis, neutrophilic dermatosis and skin lesions in SS, while IL-6 probably induced the associated clinical symptoms of fever and pain.
Reuss-Borst
M A
MA
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University Clinic, Tübingen, Germany.
Pawelec
G
G
Saal
J G
JG
Horny
H P
HP
Müller
C A
CA
Waller
H D
HD
D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016463:Sweet Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor