[Eosinophilic fasciitis: analysis of a series of 10 patients].
BACKGROUND AND 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. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 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.