Is there a Role for Anti-IL-5 Therapies in Eosinophilic Fasciitis?

Introduction: Eosinophilic Fasciitis (EF) is a rare disease, originally proposed as "diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia" by Shulman in 1974. Symptoms of EF include peripheral eosinophilia accompanied by symmetrical inflammation of the subcutaneous fascia and muscle, usually locating in the upper arms or thighs. There is no approved standard of care treatment.

Methods: Taking into account that eosinophils may be pathogenetically involved in EF, we performed a review on Medline focusing on anti-Interleukin-5 (IL-5) therapies in EF.

Results: Only one case of a patient with EF has been reported who was successfully treated with reslizumab, an anti-IL-5 therapy. The patient had EF refractory to the commonly used immunosuppressive treatment but when reslizumab was added, the patient experienced remission of her symptoms.

Discussion: The exact aetiology of EF is still unclear, and many therapeutic approaches have been tested. Commonly used immunosuppressive agents, such as corticosteroids are not always effective and associate with significant side effects. Eosinophils seem to have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease; anti-eosinophilic therapies targeting IL-5/IL-5 Receptor could be an attractive alternative for the treatment of the disease.