RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a disease of unknown aetiology characterized by cutaneous swelling and indurations. The disease affects predominantly the extremities and usually show an elevation of serum immunoglobulins, and eosinophilia. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the efficacy of cyclosporine A as a therapeutic alternative in patients with EF refractory to steroids. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We report 3 patients with clinical, laboratory and pathologic characteristics of EF who did not show a satisfactory response to steroids treatment. All patients disclosed scleroderma-like signs with orange skin, groove sign, and indurations of the affected extremities associated to peipheral eosinophilia and increased creatine-kinase. Epidermis histological findings were normal and intense linfocitary inflammation of the fascia was observed in all patients' biopsies. All patients were treated for average of 8 months with prednisone 30-50 mg daily with an insufficient clinical response. RESULTS: Patients started on cyclosporine A 5-7mg/kg/day, showing a fast improvement (2 months). The treatment induces a clinical remission that permits to reduce or even stops the cyclosporine A treatment during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that cyclosporine A may be a effective therapeutic alternative in patients with EF refractory to steroids.
