[Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome and L-tryptophan intake]

We present the case of a 52-year-old woman who developed diffuse induration of the skin and severe edema of the subcutaneous tissue involving the extremities and the trunk, sparing hands, feet and face after 10 years of almost constant oral tryptophan medication. The skin manifestations were similar to those of eosinophilic fasciitis (Shulman syndrome). The patient complained of severe muscle pain and weakness. Laboratory studies revealed an elevated Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate and eosinophilia. There were no signs of internal organ involvement and no immunological parameters of progressive systemic scleroderma. Eosinophilia and myalgia resolved in response to intermittent systemic therapy with glucocorticosteroids, whereas the progressive scleroderma and the edema showed only slight improvement after the discontinuation of L-tryptophan.