Introduction: Pustulosis, erythema nodosum, arthritis and systemic manifestations are associated in the dermatosis-arthritis syndrome. It is a well recognized complication of the bowel ileo-jejunal bypass but it is also associated with inflammatory bowel diseases.
Exegese: We report the case of an adolescent who presented with a dermatosis-arthritis syndrome associated to a Crohn's disease during a referring for pustulosis, erythema nodosum and fever. The evolution is complicated by proctorragia. Colonoscopy and intestinal biopsy found a Crohn's disease. Cutaneous and intestinal symptoms quickly improved with systemic corticosteroids.
Conclusion: The dermatosis-arthritis syndrome can be associated with bowel bypass and with inflammatory bowel disease, more frequently with ulcerative colitis than with Crohn's disease. It consists in a vesiculo-pustular eruption, erythema nodosum, fever, arthritis and ocular manifestations. Histopathology bears a strong resemblance with Sweet's syndrome. Physiopathology implicates microbial proliferation, formation of immune complex against skin and activation and migration of neutrophils and increasing factors. The treatment is based on corticosteroids and non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs or dapsone.