IC and Sweet's syndrome

[abbyjo]

I was diagnosed about 9 years ago with Sweet's after developing Strep Group C. On top of this rare disease, I have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, IC, Pelvic Congestion, Vulvodynia, and a few more Pelvic conditions. Has anyone else ever found a correlation between these conditions to Sweet's. I went into remission for about a year after being diagnosed with Sweet's (before that having flare ups bimonthly). Now I am having more and more flare ups- every week. The doctor and I can't seem to figure out what is causing me to have so many flare ups. We were wondering if anyone else with Pelvic issues or bladder issues have Sweet's. Help!!!!

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Hi abbyjo,

SS can cause a wide variety of symptoms, and is associated or possibly associated with numerous conditions. If your doctor hasn't done so already, give him/her the link to an article written by Dr. Cohen, 2007. Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7 in the article provide information about symptoms and associated conditions.

The article states that SS is possibly associated with urinary tract infection and vulvovaginitis (Table 7).

Cohen, P. (2007) Sweet's syndrome – a comprehensive review of an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (online) ojrd.com/content/2/1/34

Shell.

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Hi abbyjo,

- A painful vulva (vulvodynia) or genital ulcers can sometimes be caused by Behcet's syndrome (a form of neutrophilic dermatosis and similar condition to SS). Genital lesions are very rare in SS, and I can't find any case-studies where vulvodynia is listed as a symptom. However, genital ulcers and pain are something that some members of the SS groups have experienced.

- Patients with SS might have more of a problem with thrush (Candida albicans). In 1992, a study of 7 patients with active Sweet’s syndrome showed that in 5 patients their white blood cells (immune cells that help the body fight infection) had a diminished ability to kill Candida albicans fungal spores (Driesch et al, 1992). Unfortunately, no further studies have been conducted.

Driesch, P., Simon, M., Gomez, R. and Hornstein, O. (1992) Impairment of some granulocyte functions in Sweet's syndrome. Acta Dermato- Venereologica;72(2):109-11.

- SS can be triggered by pregnancy and contraception. This is thought to be linked to increased progesterone levels.

- Very rarely, SS has been linked to bladder and ovarian cancer.