Butler J C, Davis J P
Section of Acute and Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Wisconsin Division of Health, Madison 53701.
Wis Med J. 1990 Dec;89(12):687-91.
Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) is a newly recognized illness characterized by intense eosinophilia, debilitating myalgia, and absence of any condition that could account for the eosinophilia or myalgia. The disorder has previously been associated with ingestion of capsules containing the amino acid L-tryptophan. In 1989, the Wisconsin Division of Health began surveillance for EMS. Each of 25 persons reported with the illness and meeting a standardized case definition were using L-tryptophan when their symptoms began, between June 1989 and January 1990. The median age of the patients was 43 years (range 26-82 years); 92% were female, and 96% were white. The majority of patients reported were using L-tryptophan for insomnia (36%), premenstrual syndrome (28%), or depression (20%). Common signs and symptoms in these cases included cough or dyspnea (60%), arthralgia (44%), edema of the extremities (44%), fever (36%), and rash (32%). Other epidemiologic investigations to date suggest that EMS may be associated with a product contaminant.
嗜酸性粒细胞增多性肌痛综合征（EMS）是一种新发现的疾病，其特征为严重的嗜酸性粒细胞增多、使人衰弱的肌痛，且不存在任何可解释嗜酸性粒细胞增多或肌痛的病症。该疾病此前与摄入含氨基酸L-色氨酸的胶囊有关。1989年，威斯康星州卫生部门开始对EMS进行监测。1989年6月至1990年1月期间，每一位报告患有该疾病且符合标准化病例定义的25人中，在症状出现时都在使用L-色氨酸。患者的中位年龄为43岁（范围26 - 82岁）；92%为女性，96%为白人。报告的大多数患者使用L-色氨酸是用于治疗失眠（36%）、经前综合征（28%）或抑郁症（20%）。这些病例中的常见体征和症状包括咳嗽或呼吸困难（60%）、关节痛（44%）、四肢水肿（44%）、发热（36%）和皮疹（32%）。迄今为止的其他流行病学调查表明，EMS可能与一种产品污染物有关。
