Diagnostic criteria for Sweet's syndrome.

Five patients with Sweet's syndrome with typical clinical and histologic features were reviewed. Attention is drawn to the possible association of drug use, venipuncture and insect bite, resection of colon, exacerbation of sinusitis, and acute myelocytic leukemia with the onset of the skin eruptions in our patients. The question of whether Sweet's syndrome is just a reactive phenomenon or a specific entity is raised. Our opinion is that Sweet's syndrome is a reaction to many different antigens. However, characteristic clinical and histologic features are present to allow a definite diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome. We propose two major criteria and four minor criteria for the diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome. Findings in patients must fulfill both of the major criteria and at least two of the minor criteria to allow a diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome.