Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands

Summary

Neutrophilic dermatosis of the hands is a localized variant of Sweet syndrome (SS). It was first reported in 1995, and is an uncommon condition, with < 100 cases reported to date. The female preponderance, morphological and histological features, and response to treatment are similar to SS, but it differs in its distribution on the body. There may also be a lack of systemic features and inconsistent laboratory findings. Significantly, about half of all cases are associated with haematological problems, i.e. myelodysplasia and leukaemia. Other cases may be associated with ulcerative colitis or solid tumours. We describe a case of a 71-year-old man with neutrophilic dermatoses of the hands, who also had involvement of the lips. There was an associated rise in his anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody level, which corresponded with the activity of the disease.