Korean J Med.  2008 Mar;74(3):336-341.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome associated with skin lesions and multiple brain infarctions

• Jang SI
• Cho IK
• Park SJ
• Kim JH
• Choi SH
• Kim SY
• Jung SC

Abstract

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES) is a rare systemic disorder that's characterized by peripheral eosinophilia and eosinophilic infiltration of multiple organs, including the heart, lungs, skin, liver, gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. IHES is associated with a broad range of clinical findings, depending on the involved organ and the severity of the infiltration. The diverse modes of clinical presentation occasionally lead to a false clinical diagnosis. There are no specific tests for diagnosing IHES, and the therapies remain controversial. In this report, we describe a 34-year-old man with IHES that was associated with multiple brain infarctions in both cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Five months earlier, the patient presented with erythematous scaly hyperkeratotic skin lesions on both legs. He was treated with anticoagulation therapy, aspirin and topical corticosteroid for about 1 month. All his symptoms and signs dramatically improved, except for the persistent peripheral eosinophilia. On follow-up after 8 months, the patient remained well without relapse or new lesions.

Keyword

Hypereosinophilic syndrome; Skin lesion; Cerebral infarction

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aspirin
Brain
Brain Infarction
Cerebral Infarction
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Follow-Up Studies
Gastrointestinal Tract
Heart
Humans
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
Leg
Liver
Lung
Nervous System
Recurrence
Skin
Aspirin