Sweet's syndrome as the presenting symptom of hairy cell leukemia with concomitant infection by Mycobacterium kansasii

Ann Hematol. 1992 Jul;65(1):55-8. doi: 10.1007/BF01715129.

Abstract

A patient with Sweet's syndrome and leukopenia is reported. Hematological evaluation revealed hairy cell leukemia (HCL). The clinical picture was dominated by persistent fever, which is a common feature of both Sweet's syndrome and HCL. Since fever frequently reflects concomitant infection in HCL, a thorough search for infectious disease was performed. Blood cultures grew Mycobacterium kansasii. The patient recovered after treatment with recombinant interferon-alpha (r-IFN-alpha) and tuberculostatic drugs. Remarkably, the skin lesions completely regressed within 1 week after the start of r-IFN-alpha. In the literature, Sweet's syndrome is rarely mentioned as a feature of HCL. Mycobacterial disease, especially atypical mycobacteria, is relatively often seen in HCL.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Leukemia, Hairy Cell / complications*
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium Infections / complications*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / drug therapy
  • Skin / pathology
  • Sweet Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Sweet Syndrome / etiology*
  • Sweet Syndrome / pathology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Interferon-alpha