Eosinophilic fasciitis

 Eosinophilic fasciitis

Localized areas of skin become indurated, sometimes after an upper respiratory tract infection or prolonged severe exercise. Hypergammaglobulinaemia and eo-sinophilia are present and a deep skin biopsy, which includes muscle, shows that the fascia overlying the muscle is thickened. Despite its name, and despite a profound eosinophilia in the peripheral blood, the fascia is not eosinophilic or permeated by eosinophils. 

The disease responds promptly to systemic steroids; the long-term prognosis is good but disability in the short term can be severe.

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