title: The fasciitis-panniculitis syndrome: clinical spectrum and response to cimetidine.
abstract: The term fasciitis-panniculitis syndrome (FPS) is proposed as a novel compilation encompassing several disorders, common to which is subcutaneous induration caused by cicatrizing fasciitis as well as septal and lobular panniculitis and perimysial fibrosis. Included herein are Shulman's eosinophilic fasciitis, morphea profunda, lupus profundus, venous lipodermatosclerosis, toxic oil syndrome, altered tryptophane-related eosinophilic myositis, graft-versus-host reaction, and fasciitis reactive to subjacent basal cell carcinoma. FPS should be differentiated from scleroderma, which primarily affects the dermal structures and in which arterioles are injured. In contrast, vasculopathy of the subcutaneous medium-sized veins accompanies the hypodermal lesions of FPS. The importance of recognizing and grouping these disorders lies in their different histopathology, characterization as reactive phenomena, enhanced responsiveness to treatment, and better prognosis than scleroderma. In view of the excellent prognosis of FPS, steroid treatment is not warranted. Long-term therapy with cimetidine appears to benefit the majority of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Naschitz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yeshurun
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosner
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shajrawi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Missellevitch
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Boss
mesh_terms: D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004802:Eosinophilia; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D002927:Cimetidine