Wells' syndrome associated with ulcerative colitis: a case report and literature review

Wells' syndrome, also termed eosinophilic cellulitis, is a dermatologic condition of unknown etiology that occurs as recurrent patches or plaques mimicking infectious cellulitis. Histopathology reveals an eosinophilic infiltrate and characteristic flame figures. Previous reports have associated this syndrome with parasitic infections, arthropod bites, pharmacologic agents, surgery, and hematologic disorders. We present a case report of a patient with Wells' syndrome associated with newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis. The dermatosis erupted concurrently with flares of ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, treatment of the ulcerative colitis led to resolution of the skin lesions. To our knowledge this describes the first association between inflammatory bowel disease and Wells' syndrome and argues for a distinct relationship between the two.