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Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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In this Article

• What are eosinophils?
• What is fascia?
• What is eosinophilic fasciitis?
• What causes eosinophilic fasciitis?
• What are symptoms and signs of eosinophilic fasciitis?
• How is eosinophilic fasciitis diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for eosinophilic fasciitis?
• What is the prognosis of eosinophilic fasciitis?
• Can eosinophilic fasciitis be prevented?
• Find a local Rheumatologist in your town
• Eosinophilic Fasciitis Index

Treatment of eosinophilic fasciitis is directed at eliminating the tissue inflammation and includes aspirin, other anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and cortisone. Many patients will improve spontaneously. Others can be afflicted with persistent tissue and joint pain, in addition to thickening of the involved tissues.

For aggressive eosinophilic fasciitis, cortisone medications (such as prednisone and prednisolone), sometimes administered intravenously initially, are considered along with immune-suppression medications (such as methotrexate [Rheumatrex, Trexall], cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan] and penicillamine [Depen, Cuprimine]).

Medical research has shown that immune-suppression drugs, such as methotrexate, can reduce both the immune inflammation and the need for continued cortisone medications.

The outlook for eosinophilic fasciitis is generally good, particularly if treated aggressively early. Along with medications, physical therapy can be required for optimal rehabilitation.

Because we do not yet know the cause of eosinophilic fasciitis, it cannot be prevented.

REFERENCE:

Henning, Peter M. "Eosinophilic Fasciitis." Medscape.com. Jan. 18, 2012. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/329515-overview>.