From the Guidelines
The treatment for Sweet syndrome primarily involves systemic corticosteroids, which have been reported to be effective in managing the condition. According to the study published in the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis 1, Sweet's syndrome is characterized by tender, red inflammatory nodules or papules, and systemic corticosteroids have been shown to be effective in treating this condition.
Key Considerations
- The condition is part of the group of acute neutrophilic dermatoses and can be distinguished by its appearance, distribution, and histological features.
- There is a strong predilection for women and patients with colonic involvement and other extraintestinal manifestations.
- The rash is mostly associated with active disease, highlighting the importance of managing the underlying condition.
Treatment Approach
- Systemic corticosteroids are the primary treatment for Sweet syndrome, with the goal of suppressing the neutrophilic inflammation characteristic of this condition.
- The treatment approach may involve identifying and treating any underlying conditions that may be triggering Sweet syndrome, such as malignancy, infection, or inflammatory disease.
- Patients should be monitored for side effects of medications, particularly with long-term steroid use, to ensure the best possible outcome in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Sweet Syndrome
The treatment for Sweet syndrome typically involves the use of systemic corticosteroids, which are considered the gold standard for managing this condition 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Systemic corticosteroids have been shown to produce a prompt response, with dramatic improvement of both the dermatosis-related symptoms and skin lesions.
- Topical application of high potency corticosteroids or intralesional corticosteroids may be efficacious for treating localized lesions.
- Other first-line oral systemic agents include:
- Potassium iodide
- Colchicine
- Second-line oral systemic agents include:
- Indomethacin
- Clofazimine
- Cyclosporine
- Dapsone
Alternative Therapies
In some cases, alternative therapies may be used, such as:
- Systemic antibacterials with activity against Staphylococcus aureus for impetiginized or secondarily infected lesions
- Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists for pyoderma gangrenosum accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic retinoids, such as etretinate and acitretin, for subcorneal pustular dermatosis
- Topical agents, such as high-potency topical corticosteroids, for localized manifestations
- Intralesional corticosteroid therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and plasmapheresis for pyoderma gangrenosum
- Phototherapy for subcorneal pustular dermatosis
Spontaneous Resolution
It's worth noting that the symptoms and lesions of Sweet syndrome may resolve spontaneously, without any therapeutic intervention, although recurrence may follow either spontaneous remission or therapy-induced clinical resolution 2, 3.