Macrophagic myofasciitis is an emerging entity that was first reported in the Lancet in August 1998.1 Between May 1993 and 1999 more than 50 cases have been described in France.2 We report the first familial case of macrophagic myofasciitis.

A 45 year old woman was first admitted to hospital in July 1997 for pain and swelling of the right foot lasting for few months. Muscle biopsy of the right foot showed interstitial fibrosis with marked perivascular lymphocytes infiltrate. Only a few macrophages were seen but not in the subcutaneous tissue, epimysium, perimysium, and perifascicular endomysium. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was negative. A diagnosis of focal myositis of the right foot was made3 and she received colchicine 1 mg daily. In November 1997 she was …