Extrapulmonary thoracic restriction (hidebound chest) complicating eosinophilic fasciitis.
Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is an unusual disorder characterized by diffuse skin thickening and induration due to inflammation within the deep fascia; visceral involvement is generally mild or absent. A patient with biopsy-proved EF developed progressive respiratory limitation. Physical examination revealed marked induration of the thoracic integument with a severely limited chest wall excursion. Total lung capacity was 62 percent of predicted with a normal corrected Dco and maximal inspiratory force; a chest computed tomogram with thin sections showed no evidence of parenchymal lung disease. Extrapulmonary thoracic restriction ("hidebound chest") has not been previously reported to complicate EF.
Chalker
R B
RB
Pulmonary Center, Boston University School of Medicine.
Dickey
B F
BF
Rosenthal
N C
NC
Simms
R W
RW
D000368:Aged; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013909:Thorax; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed