[Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells syndrome)].
Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) is a rare disorder characterized clinically by recurrent erythematous plaques resembling cellulitis and histologically by a dermal infiltrate of lymphocytes, eosinophils and eosinophil debris between collagen bundles, forming flame figures in typical cases. A 71-year-old woman with Wells' syndrome with blood and bone marrow eosinophilia showed a good response to dapsone. The level of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum was elevated. Immunophenotyping of peripheral T cells revealed an increased proportion of CD3+CD4+T cells. The patients' cultured peripheral lymphocytes spontaneously released significant amounts of interleukin 5 (IL-5), but not interleukin 4 (IL-4) or interferon gamma (IFN gamma). These findings suggest that activated T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of blood and tissue eosinophilia in this patient.
Plötz
S G
SG
Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie am Biederstein, Technische Universität München.
Abeck
D
D
Behrendt
H
H
Simon
H U
HU
Ring
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012260:Ribonucleases; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D003622:Dapsone; D012260:Ribonucleases