[Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome following administration of a L-tryptophan preparation]

Abstract

An unusual new syndrome of eosinophilia and myalgia linked with the ingestion of L-tryptophan has recently been recorded in the USA. Some of the cases were lethal. In this report we describe a severe case of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome observed in a woman in Switzerland who fortunately recovered after one and a half years' duration. Thus far it is not clear if L-tryptophan or a contamination of the tryptophan is the cause of the syndrome.