Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-13 in patients with eosinophilic fasciitis.

Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), a member of the collagenase family, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of connective tissue diseases characterized by extracellular matrix remodeling. Since serum MMP-13 levels reflect disease severity of systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma, we evaluated the clinical significance of serum MMP-13 levels in eosinophilic fasciitis (EF). All the EF patients had serum MMP-13 levels lower than the mean - 2SD of healthy controls. Serum MMP-13 levels were also significantly decreased in EF patients compared with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and generalized morphea patients. Although serum MMP-13 levels did not reflect any clinical and serological features of EF, these results indicate that MMP-13 may be involved in the development of this disease.