How is eosinophilic fasciitis diagnosed?
A diagnosis of eosinophilic fasciitis is confirmed by surgical removal and microscopic evaluation (biopsy) of affected tissue. A biopsy demonstrates thickening and inflammation of fascia and surrounding tissue.
Is eosinophilic fasciitis an autoimmune disease?
Eosinophilic fasciitis is a rare autoimmune rheumatic disorder. Many autoimmune disorders affect connective tissue and a variety of organs. Connective tissue… read more in which the skin and tissue that lies beneath the skin become painfully inflamed and swollen and gradually harden in the arms and legs.
What is eosinophilic fasciitis?
Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF, also called Shulman syndrome) is an uncommon disorder of unknown etiology and poorly understood pathogenesis [1]. EF is characterized in its early phase by limb or trunk erythema and edema and later by collagenous thickening of the subcutaneous fascia.
What is Shulman syndrome?
Eosinophilic fasciitis, also called Shulman syndrome, is a rare variant of scleroderma or deep form of morphoea involving the subcutis and fascia of the skin characterised by fascial thickening with an eosinophilic tissue infiltrate and peripheral eosinophilia.
What does eosinophilic fasciitis do to the body?
Eosinophilic fasciitis causes inflammation of the tissues beneath the skin as well as sometimes in the skin. This leads to symptoms of swelling, stiffness, warmth, and pain of the involved area. Occasionally, there is discoloration of the skin over the tissues affected and the skin can appear thicker than normal.
How common is eosinophilic fasciitis?
Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a syndrome in which tissue under the skin and over the muscle, called fascia, becomes swollen, inflamed and thick. The skin on the arms, legs, neck, abdomen or feet can swell quickly. The condition is very rare. EF may look similar to scleroderma, but is not related.