Lab and radiographic abnormalities in Eosinophilic Fasciitis
What laboratory and radiographic abnormalities usually occur in patients with EF?
Peripheral eosinophilia is present in 80% of patients. An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high C-reactive protein, and a polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia are usually present. Aldolase can be elevated, whereas CPK is normal in a significant number of patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows fascial thickening and enhancement of the fascia with gadolinium.
It is important to note that as many as 20% of patients with EF do not have peripheral eosinophilia, and other lab tests may be nondiagnostic as well. As such, the diagnosis of EF is a clinical diagnosis based upon the pattern of skin thickening and confirmed by the presence of fasciitis on full thickness biopsy. Further, the biopsy may or may not demonstrate eosinophilic infiltration (
