A Case of Acute Paraplegia in Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by a persistent eosinophilia of l,500/mm3 lasting for at least 6 months associated with multi-system involvement and no other identifiable cause. A 45-year-old man had hypereosinophilia, cardiopathy, and acute paraplegia. Following corticosteriod with antipletelet agent therapy, paraplegia was improved rapidly and circulating eosinophils were normalized. We postulated that embolic phenomenon was due to hypercoagulable state by eosinophil-derived proteins and/or to direct infiltration by eosinophils.