Publication
Early clinical manifestations of Sézary syndrome: A multicenter retrospective cohort study
Journal Paper/Review - Jul 11, 2017
Mangold Aaron R, Pittelkow Mark R, Pujol Ramon M, Amitay-Laish Iris, Hodak Emmilia, Guenova Emmanuella, Cozzio Antonio, Saulite Ieva, Davis Mark D, Thompson Agnieszka K, Gniadecki Robert
Units
PubMed
Doi
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Electronic
Pages
Brief description/objective
BACKGROUND
Classic Sézary syndrome (SS) is defined by erythroderma, generalized lymphadenopathy, and leukemic blood involvement. Clinical observations suggest that SS begins as a nonerythrodermic disease.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the early clinical characteristics of patients with SS.
METHODS
A retrospective, multicenter chart review was performed for 263 confirmed cases of SS diagnosed during 1976-2015.
RESULTS
Erythroderma was the earliest recorded skin sign of SS in only 25.5% of cases, although most patients (86.3%) eventually developed erythroderma. In patients without erythroderma during their initial visit, the first cutaneous signs of SS were nonspecific dermatitis (49%), atopic dermatitis-like eruption (4.9%), or patches and plaques of mycosis fungoides (10.6%). The mean diagnostic delay was 4.2 years overall, 2.2 years for cases involving erythroderma at the initial presentation, and 5.0 years for cases not involving erythroderma at the initial presentation.
LIMITATIONS
This study is retrospective.
CONCLUSION
Erythroderma is uncommon as an initial sign of SS. Early SS should be considered in cases of nonerythrodermic dermatitis that is refractory to conventional treatments. In these cases, examination of the blood by PCR for monoclonal T-cell receptor rearrangement and by flow cytometry to identify an expanded or aberrant T-cell population should be considered.