SAPHO syndrome: clinical analysis of 22 cases.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of SAPHO syndrome.Methods Clinical data of 22 cases of SAPHO syndrome were analysed.Results There were 7 males and 15 females among the 22 patients.The average age at onset of cutaneous and osteoarticular lesions was 45 years and 44 years, respectively.Of the 22 patients,21 had palmoplantar pustulosis and 1 had acne fulminans.Anterior chest wall (ACW) was involved in 19 patients,peripheral joints in 4 patients and sacroiliac joints in 2 patients.Osteoarticular manifestations occurred prior to the onset of skin lesions in 10 cases.after that in 9 cases,and simultaneously in 3 cases.The mean interval between the onset of cntaneous and osteoarticular lesions was 2.7 years and the longest interval was 20 years.Conclusions Middle-aged females predominate in patients with SAPHO syndrome seen in dermatological clinics.Palmoplantar pustulosis and ACW involvement are the most common clinical manifestations of SAPHO syndrome. Key words: Acquired hyperostosis syndrome; Palmoplantar pustulosis; Acne; Osteoarthritis