In approx. 66% of Sweet's syndrome (SS) patients their condition doesn't return after initial treatment. Approx. 33% will experience repeat flare-ups, particularly if they've developed their SS secondary to another condition. Triggers and underlying conditions include:
- Infection, mainly upper respiratory tract infection, e.g. cough, sore throat, flu, sinusitis, AND gastrointestinal.
- Cancer (approx. 20%), mainly myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia.
- Inflammatory bowel disease - Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Autoimmune disease, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Medication (12%).
- Pregnancy.
- Immmunodeficiency, e.g. common variable immune deficiency.
- Skin damage (pathergy).
- Overexposure to UV light/sunlight.
- Herbal products (arnica cream and Indian frankincense supplements).
- Vaccination (22 cases. 10 of these associated with SARS-CoV2 vaccine -3 Pfizer, 2 AstraZeneca, 2 Moderna, 1 Janssen, 1 Sinovac-CoronaVac, 1 unspecified - don't have free full-text link).
In approx. 50% of SS patients there is no known trigger.
Michelle (Administrator).