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Updated: May 23, 2026

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Sweet syndrome and pemphigus vulgaris
Ashley O'Toole1, Maureen O'Malley
1Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
Background:
Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Sweet syndrome is an uncommon reactive neutrophilic dermatosis.
Objective:
This case report describes the rare presentation of a 58-year-old female patient with newly diagnosed pemphigus vulgaris who later presented with erythematous plaques and leukocytosis highly suggestive of Sweet syndrome.
Methods:
Review of the literature using the PubMed and Medline databases.
Results:
The clinical presentation of new-onset Sweet syndrome in a patient with pemphigus has been reported in the literature only on one other occasion.
Conclusion:
The observation of an association between Sweet syndrome and autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus vulgaris, may ultimately lead to better understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease.
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