Eosinophilia–myalgia syndrome

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome
Classification and external resources
Specialty rheumatology
ICD-10 M35.8
ICD-9-CM 710.5
DiseasesDB 32044
eMedicine derm/891
Patient UK Eosinophilia–myalgia syndrome
MeSH D016603

Eosinophilia–myalgia syndrome (EMS) is an incurable and sometimes fatal flu-like neurological condition linked to the ingestion of the dietary supplement L-tryptophan.[1][2] The risk of developing EMS increases with larger doses of tryptophan and increasing age.[3] Some research suggests that certain genetic polymorphisms may be related to the development of EMS.[4] The presence of eosinophilia is a core feature of EMS, along with unusually severe myalgia (muscle pain).[5][6][7]

Initial outbreak

The first case of Eosinophilia–myalgia syndrome was reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in November 1989, although some cases had occurred as early as 2–3 years before this.[5][8][9][10][11] In total, more than 1,500 cases of EMS were reported to the CDC, as well as at least 37 EMS-associated deaths. After preliminary investigation revealed that the outbreak was linked to intake of tryptophan, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned most tryptophan from sale in the US in 1991, and other countries followed suit.[12]

Potential causes

Subsequent epidemiological studies suggested that EMS was linked to specific batches of L-tryptophan supplied by a single large Japanese manufacturer, Showa Denko.[13][14][15][12] It eventually became clear that recent batches of Showa Denko's L-tryptophan were contaminated by trace impurities, which were subsequently thought to be responsible for the 1989 EMS outbreak.[12][16][17] While a total of 60 trace contaminants were eventually identified, only 6 of them were associated with EMS.[18][3] The compound EBT (1,1'-ethylidene-bis-L-tryptophan, also known as "Peak E") was the only contaminant identifiable by initial analysis, but further analysis revealed PPA (3-(phenylamino)-L-alanine, also known as "UV-5"), and peak 200 (2[3-indolyl-methyl]-L-tryptophan). Two of the remaining uncharacterized peaks associated with EMS have been labeled "UV-28" and "peak AAA", with peak AAA being "the contaminant most significantly associated with EMS".[3] The specific impurity or impurities responsible for the toxic effects was never firmly established. EBT has been frequently implicated as the culprit, but there is no statistically significant association between EBT levels and EMS.[3]

As most research has focused on attempts to associate individual contaminants with EMS, there is a lack of detailed research on other possible contributing factors. Tryptophan itself has been implicated as a potentially major contributory factor in EMS.[19] While critics of this theory have argued that this hypothesis fails to explain the near-absent reports of EMS prior to and following the EMS outbreak,[20] this fails to take into account the sudden rapid increase in tryptophan's usage immediately prior to the 1989 outbreak, and ignores the strong influence of the EMS outbreak's legacy and the extended FDA ban on later usage of tryptophan.[19] Crucially, this also ignores the existence of a number of cases of EMS that developed both prior to and after the primary epidemic, including at least one case where the tryptophan was tested and found to lack the contaminants found in the contaminated lots of Showa Denko's tryptophan, as well as cases with other supplements inducing EMS, and even a case of EMS induced by excessive dietary L-tryptophan intake via overconsumption of cashew nuts.[19][8][9][10][11][21][12][22][23] A major Canadian analysis located a number of patients that met the CDC criteria for EMS but had never been exposed to tryptophan, which "brings causal interpretations of earlier studies into question".[24][6] Other research highlighted numerous major flaws in many of the epidemiological studies on the association of tryptophan with EMS, which cast serious doubt on the validity of their results.[25][26] As the FDA concluded, "other brands of L-tryptophan, or L-tryptophan itself, regardless of the levels or presence of impurities, could not be eliminated as causal or contributing to the development of EMS".[12] Even animal studies have suggested that tryptophan itself "when ingested by susceptible individuals either alone or in combination with some other component in the product, results in the pathological features in EMS".[12][27]

At the time of the outbreak, Showa Denko had recently made alterations to its manufacturing procedures that were thought to be linked to the possible origin of the contaminants detected in the affected lots of tryptophan. A key change was the reduction of the amount of activated charcoal used to purify each batch from >20kg to 10kg.[3] A portion of the contaminated batches had also bypassed another filtration step that used reverse-osmosis to remove certain impurities.[3] Additionally, the bacterial culture used to synthesize tryptophan was a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens had been genetically engineered to increase tryptophan production. Although the prior four generations of the genetically engineered strain had been used without incident, the fifth generation used for the contaminated batches was thought to be a possible source of the impurities that were detected. This has been misused to argue that the genetic engineering itself was the primary cause of the contamination, a stance that was heavily criticized for overlooking the other known non-GMO causes of contamination, as well as for its use by anti-GMO activists as a way to threaten the development of biotechnology with false information.[28] The reduction in the amount of activated carbon used and the introduction of the fifth generation Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain were both associated with the development of EMS, but due to the high overlap of these changes, the precise independent contribution of each change could not be determined (although the bypass of the reverse-osmosis filtration for certain lots was determined to be not significantly associated with the contaminated lots of tryptophan).[3] While Showa Denko claimed a purity of 99.6%, it was noted that "the quantities of the known EMS associated contaminants, EBT and PAA, were remarkably small, of the order of 0.01%, and could easily escape detection".[3]

Regulatory response

The FDA loosened its restrictions on sales and marketing of tryptophan in February 2001, but continued to limit the importation of tryptophan not intended for an exempted use until 2005.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bolton P, Lindgren CE, Redmon GL (1991). "A mystery ailment revealed". American Fitness 9 (5 (Sept–Oct)): 34–5. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  2. ↑ Lindgren CE, Walker LA, Bolton P (Feb 1991). "L-tryptophan induced eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome". Journal of the Royal Society of Health 111 (1): 29–30. doi:10.1177/146642409111100111. PMID 2005606.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mayeno AN, Gleich GJ (Sep 1994). "Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome and tryptophan production: a cautionary tale". Trends in Biotechnology 12 (9): 346–52. doi:10.1016/0167-7799(94)90035-3. PMID 7765187.
  4. ↑ Okada S, Kamb ML, Pandey JP, Philen RM, Love LA, Miller FW (Oct 2009). "Immunogenetic risk and protective factors for the development of L-tryptophan-associated eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome and associated symptoms". Arthritis and Rheumatism 61 (10): 1305–11. doi:10.1002/art.24460. PMID 19790128.
  5. 1 2 Milburn DS, Myers CW (Nov 1991). "Tryptophan toxicity: a pharmacoepidemiologic review of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome". Dicp 25 (11): 1259–62. PMID 1763543.
  6. 1 2 Spitzer WO, Haggerty JL, Berkson L, Davis W, Palmer W, Tamblyn R, Laprise R, Mulder LJ (Oct 1996). "Analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome in a geographically defined population". The Journal of Rheumatology. Supplement 46: 73–9; discussion 79–80. PMID 8895183.
  7. ↑ Blackburn WD (Jun 1997). "Eosinophilia myalgia syndrome". Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism 26 (6): 788–93. doi:10.1016/S0049-0172(97)80022-4. PMID 9213377.
  8. 1 2 Goronzy JJ, Weyand CM (Jul 1990). "Eosinophilia, myopathy, and neuropathy in a patient with repeated use of L-tryptophan". Klinische Wochenschrift 68 (14): 735–8. doi:10.1007/bf01647582. PMID 2391954.
  9. 1 2 Blauvelt A, Falanga V (Aug 1991). "Idiopathic and L-tryptophan-associated eosinophilic fasciitis before and after L-tryptophan contamination". Archives of Dermatology 127 (8): 1159–66. doi:10.1001/archderm.127.8.1159. PMID 1863073.
  10. 1 2 Lakhanpal S, Duffy J, Engel AG (Jan 1988). "Eosinophilia associated with perimyositis and pneumonitis". Mayo Clinic Proceedings 63 (1): 37–41. doi:10.1016/s0025-6196(12)62663-9. PMID 3336240.
  11. 1 2 Strongwater SL, Woda BA, Yood RA, Rybak ME, Sargent J, DeGirolami U, Smith TW, Varnis C, Allen S, Murphy K (Oct 1990). "Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome associated with L-tryptophan ingestion. Analysis of four patients and implications for differential diagnosis and pathogenesis". Archives of Internal Medicine 150 (10): 2178–86. doi:10.1001/archinte.150.10.2178. PMID 2222105.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Information Paper on L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan". FU. S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements. 2001-02-01. Archived from the original on 2005-02-25. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  13. ↑ Slutsker L, Hoesly FC, Miller L, Williams LP, Watson JC, Fleming DW (Jul 1990). "Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome associated with exposure to tryptophan from a single manufacturer". JAMA 264 (2): 213–7. doi:10.1001/jama.264.2.213. PMID 2355442.
  14. ↑ Back EE, Henning KJ, Kallenbach LR, Brix KA, Gunn RA, Melius JM (Apr 1993). "Risk factors for developing eosinophilia myalgia syndrome among L-tryptophan users in New York". The Journal of Rheumatology 20 (4): 666–72. PMID 8496862.
  15. ↑ Kilbourne EM, Philen RM, Kamb ML, Falk H (Oct 1996). "Tryptophan produced by Showa Denko and epidemic eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome". The Journal of Rheumatology. Supplement 46: 81–8; discussion 89–91. PMID 8895184.
  16. ↑ Mayeno AN, Lin F, Foote CS, Loegering DA, Ames MM, Hedberg CW, Gleich GJ (Dec 1990). "Characterization of "peak E," a novel amino acid associated with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome". Science 250 (4988): 1707–8. doi:10.1126/science.2270484. PMID 2270484.
  17. ↑ Ito J, Hosaki Y, Torigoe Y, Sakimoto K (Jan 1992). "Identification of substances formed by decomposition of peak E substance in tryptophan". Food and Chemical Toxicology 30 (1): 71–81. doi:10.1016/0278-6915(92)90139-C. PMID 1544609.
  18. ↑ Hill RH, Caudill SP, Philen RM, Bailey SL, Flanders WD, Driskell WJ, Kamb ML, Needham LL, Sampson EJ (Jul 1993). "Contaminants in L-tryptophan associated with eosinophilia myalgia syndrome". Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 25 (1): 134–42. doi:10.1007/bf00230724. PMID 8346973.
  19. 1 2 3 Smith MJ, Garrett RH (Nov 2005). "A heretofore undisclosed crux of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome: compromised histamine degradation". Inflammation Research 54 (11): 435–50. doi:10.1007/s00011-005-1380-7. PMID 16307217.
  20. ↑ Fernstrom JD (Dec 2012). "Effects and side effects associated with the non-nutritional use of tryptophan by humans". The Journal of Nutrition 142 (12): 2236S–2244S. doi:10.3945/jn.111.157065. PMID 23077193. -- note: This is somewhat misleading, as that article is actually a supplement (paid advertisement) that did not go through the normal peer review process, not a normal publication.
  21. ↑ Allen JA, Peterson A, Sufit R, Hinchcliff ME, Mahoney JM, Wood TA, Miller FW, Whitfield ML, Varga J (Nov 2011). "Post-epidemic eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome associated with L-tryptophan". Arthritis and Rheumatism 63 (11): 3633–9. doi:10.1002/art.30514. PMID 21702023.
  22. ↑ Barešić M, Bosnić D, Bakula M, Žarković K (1 January 2014). "Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome induced by excessive L-tryptophan intake from cashew nuts". Open Medicine 9 (6). doi:10.2478/s11536-013-0339-2.
  23. ↑ Grangeia Td, Schweller M, Paschoal IA, Zambon L, Pereira MC (December 2007). "Insuficiência respiratória aguda como manifestação da síndrome de eosinofilia-mialgia associada à ingestão de L-triptofano" [Acute respiratory failure as a manifestation of eosinophilia - myalgia syndrome associated with L- tryptophan intake]. Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia (in Portuguese) 33 (6): 747–751. doi:10.1590/S1806-37132007000600021.
  24. ↑ Spitzer WO, Haggerty JL, Berkson L, Davis W, Palmer W, Tamblyn R, Laprise R, Faith JM, Elmore JG, Horwitz RI (Mar 1995). "Continuing occurrence of eosinophilia myalgia syndrome in Canada". British Journal of Rheumatology 34 (3): 246–51. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/34.3.246. PMID 7728400.
  25. ↑ Daniels SR, Hudson JI, Horwitz RI (Dec 1995). "Epidemiology of potential association between L-tryptophan ingestion and eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome". Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 48 (12): 1413–27; discussion 1429–40. doi:10.1016/0895-4356(95)00503-x. PMID 8543957.
  26. ↑ Shapiro S (Oct 1996). "Epidemiologic studies of the association of L-tryptophan with the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome: a critique". The Journal of Rheumatology. Supplement 46: 44–58; discussion 58–9. PMID 8895181.
  27. ↑ Gross B, Ronen N, Honigman S, Livne E (1999). "Tryptophan toxicity--time and dose response in rats". Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 467: 507–16. PMID 10721094.
  28. ↑ Raphals P (Nov 1990). "Does medical mystery threaten biotech?". Science 250 (4981): 619. doi:10.1126/science.2237411. PMID 2237411.
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