J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1994 Jul;37(7):1020-1027.

A Case of Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

• Cho B
• Kim JT
• Lee JS
• Cho KH

Abstract

The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) represents a heterogenous group of disorder characterized by prolonged eosinophilia of undetectable cause and multiorgan system dysfunction. Bone marrow is the most frequentry involved organ, but the most severe clinicopathologic involvement is heart. The major cause of death in patients with the HES is cardiac dysfunction especially congestive heart failure resulted from endocardial fibrosis and restrictive cardiomyopathy. We have experienced a case of DES with both cardiac and pulmonary involvements. The patient was an 18-month-old infant with poorly controlled lung abscess who complained of fever and productive cough. On the microscopic examination of pleural effusion, eosinophilic infiltration was noted. M-mode echocardiogram showed diffuse thickening of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall. On the peripheral blood smear, prolonged eosinophilia was observed. We confirmed this case with bone marrow aspiration which showed eosinophilic hyperplasia.

MeSH Terms

Bone Marrow
Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive
Cause of Death
Cough
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Fever
Fibrosis
Heart
Heart Failure
Humans
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome*
Hyperplasia
Infant
Lung Abscess
Pleural Effusion