Eosinophilic fasciitis

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a syndrome in which tissue under the skin and over the muscle, called fascia, becomes swollen, inflamed and thick. The skin on the arms, legs, neck, abdomen or feet can swell quickly. The condition is very rare.

EF may look similar to scleroderma, but is not related. Unlike scleroderma, in EF, the fingers are not involved.

Causes

The cause of EF is unknown. Rare cases have occurred after taking L-tryptophan supplements. In people with this condition, white blood cells, called eosinophils, build up in the muscles and tissues. Eosinophils are linked to allergic reactions. The syndrome is more common in people ages 30 to 60.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Tenderness and swelling of the skin on the arms, legs, or sometimes the joints (most often on both sides of the body)
• Arthritis

  Arthritis

  Arthritis is inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of...

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

  Carpal tunnel syndrome

  Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which there is excessive pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. This is the nerve that allows feeling a...

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Muscle pain
• Thickened skin that looks puckered

Exams and Tests

Tests that may be done include:

• CBC with differential
• Gamma globulins (a type of immune system protein)
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)

  ESR

  ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is commonly called a "sed rate. "It is a test that indirectly measures the level of certain protei...

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• MRI

  MRI

  A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Muscle biopsy

  Muscle biopsy

  A muscle biopsy is the removal of a small piece of muscle tissue for examination.

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Skin biopsy (the biopsy needs to include the deep tissue of the fascia)

  Skin biopsy

  A skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article

Treatment

Corticosteroids and other immune-suppressing medicines are used to relieve symptoms. These medicines are more effective when started early in the disease. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also help reduce symptoms.

Outlook (Prognosis)

In most cases, the condition goes away within 1 to 3 years. However, symptoms may last longer or come back.

Possible Complications

Arthritis is a rare complication of EF. Some people may develop serious blood disorders or blood-related cancers, such as aplastic anemia or leukemia. The outlook is much worse if blood diseases occur.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of this disorder.

Prevention

There is no known prevention.