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.

Key words: cellulites