title: [Sweet syndrome: retrospective study of 54 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sweet syndrome is the most common neutrophilic dermatosis. We studied its natural history and epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics from a series of 54 cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study examines 54 cases collected over a 10-year-period. Diagnosis was based on clinical and histological criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' mean age was 47 years. The sex ratio was 8 women for every man. Disease developed most often in autumn and onset was sudden in all patients. Untypical aspects were found in 20 patients. Lesions were located mainly on the arms (43 cases) and legs (33 cases). No mucous membrane involvement was observed. Histological testing found leukocytoclastic vasculitis in 8 cases. Sweet syndrome was idiopathic for 38 patients. Lesions began at the site of previous trauma for 9 patients, occurred during pregnancy for 2, and were associated with cancer for 3. First-line treatment was colchicine for 23 patients and oral steroids for 12. Six patients had recurrences and 2 patients had relapses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This large series of patients with Sweet syndrome differs from other reports by the frequency of untypical aspects and post-traumatic forms, as well as the rarity of association with cancer. Histological findings of vasculitis do not rule out a diagnosis of Sweet syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisie. masmoudiabd@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Abderrahmen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
authors.forename: Hend
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaaben
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamdouni
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boudaya
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouassida
authors.forename: Hamida
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turki
authors.forename: Abdelmajid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zahaf
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D016463:Sweet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003078:Colchicine