[Acute polyarthritis associated with Sweet's syndrome].

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Rheumatology
• Virology

Background:

• Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) is an inflammatory condition.
• Seronegative polyarthritis involves joint inflammation without specific antibodies.
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus with diverse clinical manifestations.

Observation:

• A 43-year-old male presented with symptoms of Sweet's syndrome and acute seronegative polyarthritis.
• Elevated serum antibodies against cytomegalovirus were detected (1/1280 and 1/2560).
• Histological examination revealed typical Sweet's syndrome lesions.

Findings:

• Unidentified extra- and intracellular particles were observed within histiocytes in the skin lesions.
• The presence of these particles suggests a potential role for an infectious agent, possibly CMV, in the pathogenesis.
• The association with seronegative polyarthritis indicates a systemic inflammatory response.

Implications:

• This case highlights a potential association between cytomegalovirus infection and the co-occurrence of Sweet's syndrome and polyarthritis.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of CMV or other unidentified agents in these conditions.
• Understanding this link may lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients presenting with similar clinical features.