Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
Reading about Sweet's syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) in the endgame case review [1] is intriguing. Nevertheless, two other related conditions—tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria—are associated with Sweet’s syndrome. Sweet's syndrome has been reported to manifest as a cutaneous reaction in patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis on multiple occasions and also in tuberculous meningitis. [2-4]
Furthermore, Sweet's syndrome is also linked to non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, including Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium chalonae. [5,6] This is a substantial correlation between NTM and Sweet's syndrome. According to a study [7], among patients with Sweet's syndrome, seventy-seven percent had an NTM infection.
References-
1. Yang C, Qiao J. Tender erythematous plaques with fever BMJ 2024; 387 :e076856 doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-076856
2. Chen, Chieh-Hsun1,2; Yang, Ting-Ya2,3; Lai, Feng-Jie4,5,*. Sweet's syndrome occurred in a case with tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis. Dermatologica Sinica 39(4):p 206-207, Oct–Dec 2021. | DOI: 10.4103/ds.ds_34_21
3. Singh RK. Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis following tuberculous infection. J Assoc Physicians India. 2002 Oct;50:1322-3. PMID: 12568224.
4. Wang S, Zhao J, Qiao J, Fang H. Sweet syndrome associated with mycobacterium tuberculosis. Int J Clin Exp Med 2018;11(5):5237-5240.
5. Choonhakarn C, Chetchotisakd P, Jirarattanapochai K, Mootsikapun P. Sweet's syndrome associated with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection: a report of five cases. Br J Dermatol. 1998 Jul;139(1):107-10. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1998.02324.x.
6. Tuchinda C, Puavilai S, Sathapatayavongs B, Sungkanuparph S, Vibhagool A, Jirasutus S, Rajatanavin N, Timpatanapong P. Sweet's syndrome: a reaction to non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections. J Med Assoc Thai. 2004 May;87(5):567-72. PMID: 15222531.
7. Chaowattanapanit, S., Choonhakarn, C., Chetchotisakd, P., Sawanyawisuth, K. and Julanon, N. (2016), Clinical features and outcomes of Sweet's syndrome associated with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection and other associated diseases. J Dermatol, 43: 532-536. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.13167
Re: Tender erythematous plaques with fever
Dear Editor
Reading about Sweet's syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) in the endgame case review [1] is intriguing. Nevertheless, two other related conditions—tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria—are associated with Sweet’s syndrome. Sweet's syndrome has been reported to manifest as a cutaneous reaction in patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis on multiple occasions and also in tuberculous meningitis. [2-4]
Furthermore, Sweet's syndrome is also linked to non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, including Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium chalonae. [5,6] This is a substantial correlation between NTM and Sweet's syndrome. According to a study [7], among patients with Sweet's syndrome, seventy-seven percent had an NTM infection.
References-
1. Yang C, Qiao J. Tender erythematous plaques with fever BMJ 2024; 387 :e076856 doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-076856
2. Chen, Chieh-Hsun1,2; Yang, Ting-Ya2,3; Lai, Feng-Jie4,5,*. Sweet's syndrome occurred in a case with tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis. Dermatologica Sinica 39(4):p 206-207, Oct–Dec 2021. | DOI: 10.4103/ds.ds_34_21
3. Singh RK. Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis following tuberculous infection. J Assoc Physicians India. 2002 Oct;50:1322-3. PMID: 12568224.
4. Wang S, Zhao J, Qiao J, Fang H. Sweet syndrome associated with mycobacterium tuberculosis. Int J Clin Exp Med 2018;11(5):5237-5240.
5. Choonhakarn C, Chetchotisakd P, Jirarattanapochai K, Mootsikapun P. Sweet's syndrome associated with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection: a report of five cases. Br J Dermatol. 1998 Jul;139(1):107-10. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1998.02324.x.
6. Tuchinda C, Puavilai S, Sathapatayavongs B, Sungkanuparph S, Vibhagool A, Jirasutus S, Rajatanavin N, Timpatanapong P. Sweet's syndrome: a reaction to non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections. J Med Assoc Thai. 2004 May;87(5):567-72. PMID: 15222531.
7. Chaowattanapanit, S., Choonhakarn, C., Chetchotisakd, P., Sawanyawisuth, K. and Julanon, N. (2016), Clinical features and outcomes of Sweet's syndrome associated with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection and other associated diseases. J Dermatol, 43: 532-536. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.13167
Competing interests: No competing interests