Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome: A case report.

ABSTRACT

Eosinophilia is quite common in Thailand due to the high prevalence of parasitic diseases. A study in 1993-1994 showed that 41% of patients with different parasitic infections had eosinophilia. We report herein a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). A 23-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a 1.5 month history of chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. He had symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure. His peripheral blood revealed eosinophils 42% (8.4 x 109/1) with many hypogranulated and vacuolated eosinophils. Bone marrow aspiration showed a hypercellular marrow with eosinophils 10% and plasma cells 5-10%. Chest x-ray showed cardiomegaly and an echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion. As this patient had eosinophilia, signs and symptoms of cardiac involvement and lack of evidence for parasitic, allergic or other causes of eosinophilia, a diagnosis of idiopathic HES was made. Treatment with prednisolone resulted in the improvement of congestive heart failure and the eosinophil count returned to normal. A prompt diagnosis and treatment are needed in patents with this syndrome.