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Eosinophilia‐myalgia syndrome associated with L‐tryptophan use
Author(s) -
Montanaro Anthony,
Wakefield Denis
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb126157.x
Subject(s) - lethargy , medicine , myalgia , eosinophilia , myositis , muscle biopsy , white blood cell , gastroenterology , fascia , biopsy , surgery , pathology
A young, previously healthy woman presented with increasing muscle pain, lower limb swelling, fatigue and eosinophilia. She had consumed L‐ tryptophan tablets (one to two at night) over the preceding five months for management of her insomnia. Her condition slowly deteriorated and she developed generalised oedema and severe lethargy. A white blood cell count was 21.3times10'/L with 43% eosinophils (Normal range: 4.0‐11.0times10 9 /L with 1‐6% eosinophils. A biopsy specimen of the deep fascia and gastrocnemius muscle demonstrated fasciitis and myositis. The patient failed to recover after cessation of L‐ tryptophan use but her condition improved rapidly without significant sequelae after systemic treatment with corticosteroids.