Sweet Syndrome as a Possible Initial Manifestation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

splenectomy, and it should not be used at all in patients with glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase deficit. Rhizoma coptidis and its main alkaloid component, berberine, inhibit the proinflammatory activity induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)2 in a dose-dependent manner. Recent studies have investigated the antiacne properties of various groups of Chinese herbs—some containing Rhizoma coptidis—showing their antilipogenic and antibacterial action against Propionibacterium acnes.3 Higaki et al4 even suggest these are more effective than antibiotics such as minocycline or erythromycin because, unlike these, the Chinese herbs do not produce an increase in minimum inhibitory concentration. The fact that the patient had previously ingested this extract without reaction suggests a hypersensitivity