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Eosinophilic Fasciitis
(Shulman's Syndrome)

Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

What are eosinophils?

Eosinophils are a particular type of white blood cells, usually representing a small percentage (less than 8% of the total white blood cell population). The number of these cells (eosinophil count) increases in certain illnesses, including allergies, asthma, Addison's disease, sarcoidosis, parasite infections, drug reactions, and connective tissue diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma).

What is fascia?

The fascia is a lining tissue under the skin that covers a surface of underlying tissues. When the fascia is inflamed, the condition is referred to as "fasciitis."

What is eosinophilic fasciitis?

Eosinophilic fasciitis is a specific disease of the skin that leads to inflammation and thickening of the skin and fascia underneath. In patients with eosinophilic fasciitis, the involved fascia is inflamed with the eosinophil type of white blood cells. This leads to symptoms of progressive thickening and often redness, warmth, and hardness of the skin surface.

Occasionally, the onset of eosinophilic fasciitis follows a period of exertional physical activity. Eosinophilic fasciitis is sometimes confused with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome and scleroderma. Eosinophilic fasciitis sometimes occurs associated with cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma.



Next: How is eosinophilic fasciitis diagnosed? »

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Eosinophilic Fasciitis

What is scleroderma?

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses which occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. Scleroderma is characterized by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and organs of the body. This leads to thickness and firmness of involved areas. Scleroderma, when it's diffuse or widespread over the body, is also referred to as systemic sclerosis.

The cause of scleroderma is not known. Researchers have found some evidence that genes are important factors, but the environment seems to also play a role. The result is activation of the immune system, causing injury to tissues that result in injury similar to scar tissue formation. The fact that genes seem to cause a predisposition to developing scleroderma means that inheritance at least plays a partial role. It is not unusual to find other autoimmune di...

Read the Scleroderma article »










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