title: Eosinophilic fasciitis: clinical characteristics and response to methotrexate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our experience with 16 patients with eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) treated in our clinic over 14 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with biopsy-proven EF. We collected data regarding demographics, clinical presentations, possible triggers, labs, imaging, treatment and response to therapy on follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight women and eight men with a mean age of 52 years were included in the study. Three patients related the onset to prior strenuous exercise and one was exposed to vibratory machinery. Fourteen patients had a gradual onset and presented with induration of the skin. Two other patients presented with acute-onset and significant edema and weight gain. All patients required immunosuppressive therapy. Methotrexate (MTX) was used in all of our patients. The rate of complete remission was ~60%. Although the recurrence rate after stopping MTX was 70%, these patients responded well to re-treatment with MTX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that MTX represents an effective treatment option for EF. The rarity of this disease would make a double-blind controlled trial study difficult to perform.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Florentina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berianu
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abril
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: eosinophilic fasciitis; methotrexate