Reversible extensive leukoencephalopathy in Sweet disease: a case report

J Neurol Sci. 2008 Dec 15;275(1-2):178-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2008.08.006. Epub 2008 Sep 16.

Abstract

Sweet disease, also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is an idiopathic multisystem inflammatory disorder characterised by erythematous skin lesions and fever. "Neuro-Sweet disease" is a rare central nervous system involvement that coexists with the characteristic cutaneous lesions of Sweet disease. Here, we report a case of Sweet disease complicated with acute encephalopathy. This case showed extensive lesions in the cerebral white matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) without pleocytosis. After steroid therapy, the patient's clinical syndrome recovered completely with no significant neurological deficits or abnormal findings on brain MRI, and normalization of the high CSF protein concentration. Both clinical and MRI findings suggested that the marked leukoencephalopathy in this case was mainly due to reversible oedema rather than destructive structural alterations in the cerebral parenchyma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Leukocytosis / complications
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / complications*
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / pathology
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Sweet Syndrome / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Sweet Syndrome / complications*
  • Sweet Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Sweet Syndrome / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins
  • Steroids