Recent advances in Sweet's syndrome: differential diagnosis, triggering factors and therapeutic options

Authors

Keywords:

Síndrome de Sweet; Dermatosis neutrofílica; Diagnóstico diferencial; Factores desencadenantes; Opciones terapéuticas., Sweet's syndrome; Neutrophilic dermatosis; Differential diagnosis; Triggering factors; Therapeutic options.

Abstract

Introduction: sweet's syndrome is an uncommon acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by painful skin lesions, fever and leukocytosis. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent complications and improve patient prognosis.

Objective: to examine current advances in differential diagnosis, triggering factors and therapeutic alternatives for Sweet's syndrome, based on recent scientific evidence.

Methods: systematized bibliographic review including articles indexed in PubMed, BVS and SciELO published between 2021-2024. PRISMA methodology was applied, identifying 2444 initial records, eliminating 189 duplicates, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria resulting in 18 high-quality articles for final analysis.

Results: sweet's syndrome shows higher incidence in women between 30-60 years (4:1 ratio). Association with hematologic malignancies, autoimmune diseases, infections and drug reactions was identified. Emerging evidence documents cases related to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, especially after the first dose. Systemic corticosteroids constitute first-line treatment, with effective alternatives such as colchicine and dapsone in refractory cases.

Conclusions: accurate differential diagnosis and early treatment are essential for Sweet's syndrome management. Current evidence highlights the importance of recognizing triggering factors and optimizing alternative treatments in resistant cases. The potential association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination requires additional research to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Cohen PR. Sweet's syndrome - a comprehensive review of an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. Orphanet J Rare Dis[internet]. 2007[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 26: 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/1750-1172-2-34

2. Villarreal-Villarreal CD, Ocampo-Candiani J, Villarreal-Martínez A. Sweet syndrome: a review and update. Actas Dermosifiliogr[internet]. 2016[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 107(5):369-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ad.2015.12.001

3. Orfaly VE, Shakshouk H, Heath M, Hamilton A, Ortega-Loayza AG. Sweet syndrome: a review of published cases. Dermatology[internet]. 2023[citado 28 noviembre 2025];239(4):664-669. https://doi.org/10.1159/000530519

4. Villarreal-Villarreal CD, Ocampo-Candiani J, Villarreal-Martínez A. Sweet Syndrome: A Review and Update. Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas[internet]. 2016[citado 28 noviembre 2025];107(5):369-378. https://www.actasdermo.org/es-sweet-syndrome-a-review-update-articulo-S000173101500558X

5. Previtera González PD, Murillo Arribas C, Romero Martínez J, Iñiguez de Heredia Monforte P. Síndrome de Sweet: a propósito de un caso. Rev Sanit Investig [Internet]. 2024[citado 28 noviembre 2025];5(1):e-374. Disponible en: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=9315390

6. Croia C, Dini V, Loggini B, Manni E, Bonadio AG, Romanelli M, et al. Neutrophil extracellular traps and Sweet syndrome. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol[internet]. 2022[citado 28 noviembre 2025];88:842-843. https://ijdvl.com/neutrophil-extracellular-traps-and-sweet-syndrome/

7. Calabrese L, Satoh TK, Aoki R, et al. Sweet syndrome: an update on clinical aspects, pathophysiology, and treatment. Ital J Dermatol Venerol[internet]. 2024[citado 28 noviembre 2025];159(6):645-662. https://doi.org/10.23736/s2784-8671.24.07956-8

8. BŁASZCZYK A, TROJAN S, FUSSEK-STYGA U, KWIECIŃSKI J, MISZUDA S, BASIAGA B, BEDNARZ K, SZWEDKOWICZ A, LEŚNIAK M,HELUSZKA J. Sweet Syndrome - A Review of Pathogenesis, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Treatment. Journal of Education Health[internet]. 2023[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 30(1): 45-56. https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.30.01.004

9. Patel P, Goyal A. Antiarrhythmic Medications. StatPearls [Internet]; 2024[citado 28 noviembre 2025]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482322/

10. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ[internet]. 2021[citado 28 noviembre 2025];372:n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

11. Oliveira CAX. Síndrome de Sweet. BWS J [Internet]. 2022;5:e0512022. Disponible en: https://bwsjournal.emnuvens.com.br/bwsj/article/view/375

12. Villacis Marriott G, Hervat VL, Pacheco ES, Vigovich F, Noriega G. Síndrome de Sweet: reporte de caso clínico. Fronteras en Medicina [Internet]. 2023[citado 28 noviembre 2025];18(4):238-242. Disponible en: https://adm.meducatium.com.ar/contenido/articulos/33602820284_2608/pdf/33602820284.pdf

13. Ben Salah N, Korbi M, Ben Fadhel N, Safa I, Chad F, Njima M, et al. Sweet syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 CoronaVac vaccine. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol[internet]. 2022[citado 28 noviembre 2025];36(11):e873-e875. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.18336

14. Marcoval J, Moreno A, Peyrí J. Sweet syndrome: long-term follow-up of 138 patients. Clin Exp Dermatol[internet]. 2016[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 41(7):741-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27663147/

15. Jia Y, Boyang F, Liping D, Mingyi Z. Sweet syndrome induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: A systematic review of patient-report studies, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics[internet]. 2023[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 19: 2, 2217076, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/21645515.2023.2217076

16. Nelson CA, Stephen S, Ashchyan HJ, James WD, Micheletti RG, Rosenbach M. Neutrophilic dermatoses: pathogenesis, Sweet syndrome, neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis, and Behçet disease. J Am Acad Dermatol[internet]. 2018 Dec[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 79(6):987-1006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.11.064

17. Cohen PR. Neutrophilic dermatoses: a review of current treatment options. Am J Clin Dermatol[internet]. 2009[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 10(5):301-12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19658442/

18. Ibáñez Franco EJ, González Báez CA, Aldama Caballero ABF, Rivelli de Oddone V, Penayo Aguilera TDJ, Estigarribia Alvarez MG. Síndrome de Sweet posinfeccioso. Rev Virtual Soc Parag Med Int[internet]. 2023[citado 28 noviembre 2025];10(2):124-128. https://www.revistaspmi.org.py/index.php/rvspmi/article/view/455

19. Rochet NM, Chavan RN, Cappel MA, Wada DA, Gibson LE. Sweet syndrome: clinical presentation, associations, and response to treatment in 77 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol[internet]. 2013[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 69(4): 557-564. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S019096221300652X

20. Cohen PR, Razelle K. Sweet's syndrome: a review of treatment options. Dermatol Ther[internet]. 2002[citado 28 noviembre 2025];3(2):117-131. https://www.praxis-schuster.ch/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Cohen.pdf

21. Wallach D, Vignon-Pennamen MD. From acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis to neutrophilic disease: forty years of clinical research. J Am Acad Dermatol[internet]. 2006[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 55(6):1066-71. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17097401/

22. Marzano AV, Ortega-Loayza AG, Heath M, Morse D, Genovese G, Cugno M. Mechanisms of inflammation in neutrophil-mediated skin diseases. Front Immunol[internet]. 2019[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 10: 1059. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31139187/

23. Thompson DF, Montarella KE. Drug-induced Sweet's syndrome. Ann Pharmacother[internet]. 2007[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 41(5):802-11. https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1h563

24. Sanz-Cabanillas JL, Gómez García F, Gómez Arias PJ, Montilla López A, et al. Effectiveness and safety of anakinra and canakinumab in PSTPIP1 associated inflammatory diseases: a comprehensive scoping review. Front Inmunol[internet]. 2024[citado 28 noviembre 2025]; 8: 14: 1339337. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1339337

Published

2026-01-06

How to Cite

1.
Jami Carrera JE, Sulca-Espín KG, Carvajal-Gavilanes JS, Peñaloza-López OA. Recent advances in Sweet’s syndrome: differential diagnosis, triggering factors and therapeutic options. Univ. Méd. Pinareña [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 6 [cited 2026 Feb. 10];21(1):e1496. Available from: https://revgaleno.sld.cu/index.php/ump/article/view/1496