Synovial fluid lymphocytes in eosinophilic fasciitis

Arthritis is an uncommon manifestation of eosinophilic fasciitis. We report a patient who developed arthritis of his left knee, followed 2 weeks later by skin lesions which evolved into histologically proven eosinophilic fasciitis. Synovianalysis on 2 occasions demonstrated a mildly inflammatory fluid with more than 90% lymphocytes. These lymphocytes were shown to be primarily activated suppressor/cytotoxic T cells.