Wells syndrome: a clinical and histopathological review of seven cases / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the clinical and histopathological features as well as treatment of Wells syndrome.Methods The clinical and pathological findings from 7 patients with Wells syndrome were retrospectively reviewed.Results Lesions were located on both lower extremities in 4 patients,on the back in 1 patient,on the face and trunk in 1 patient,and on the buttocks in 1 patient.Clinical manifestations included cellulitis (n =3),urticaria (n =1 ),annular plaques (n =1 ) and papulonodules (n =2).Histopathological examination of skin biopsies showed an infiltrate of numerous eosinophils with occasional flame figures in the dermis of all the patients.Leucocytoclastic vasculitis was found in 3 cases.No triggering factors were found in any of the 7 cases.The lesions nearly subsided in 3 patients after 2-week treatment with oral small-dosage prednisone and tripterygium glycosides.Conclusions Wells syndrome shows a wide diversity of clinical manifestations with distinct histological features.Systemic glucocorticoids and tripterygium glycosides are effective for the control of this condition.