[Eosinophilic fasciitis: analysis of a series of 10 patients].
OBJECTIVE
Eosinophilic fasciitis is an uncommon scleroderma-like syndrome with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. We report the clinical manifestations and response to therapy in a series of patients diagnosed with eosinophilic fasciitis.


METHODS
The records of 10 eosinophilic fasciitis patients seen at our hospital between 1996-2004 were reviewed.


RESULTS
Five patients were males, ages ranged from 20 years to 67 years, with a mean of 59 years. Patients were followed for 33.4 (27.1) months (SD). Nailfold capillaroscopy was near normal in all patients. Only one patient had antinuclear antibody positivity, and another had an autoimmune thyroiditis. No significant relationship was detected between the eosinophil count and the extent of skin induration. The clinical course was inadequate and the treatment response poor in patients with spreading cutaneous induration (p = 0.008). These patients had more often ventilatory restriction and perimyositis.


CONCLUSIONS
Eosinophilic fasciitis does not always have a good prognosis. Ventilatory restriction, perimyositis and poor treatment response are not infrequent in a series of patients attended in a general hospital.
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
Ernesto
E
Trallero Araguas
Albert
A
Selva O'Callaghan
Carmen Pilar
CP
Simeón Aznar
Eduardo
E
Sanjurjo Golpe
Vicente
V
García-Patos
Miquel
M
Vilardell Tarrés
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies