Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with multiple organ damage: A case report

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting as cardiac tamponade and multiorgan dysfunction

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is characterised by the overproduction of eosinophils with tissue infiltration, leading to multiorgan dysfunction. Its heterogenous presentation makes the diagnosis challenging and easy to miss. A woman in her 70s was admitted with chest pain and shortness of breath. Diagnostic testing showed elevated cardiac enzymes, an ejection fraction of 45% and pericardial effusion. Pericardiocentesis helped her symptoms significantly. Cardiac catheterisation revealed patent coronary arteries. She was diagnosed with myopericarditis and discharged on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. She returned the following week with worsening chest pain, dyspnoea and diarrhoea. Chest imaging showed bilateral infiltrates. Diagnostic testing showed eosinophilic predominance in peripheral blood (59%), pericardial fluid (37%) and bronchoalveolar lavage (31%). After a negative infectious workup, she was started on glucocorticoids and responded favourably. She was discharged on steroids. Mepolizumab was initiated outpatient, and steroids were discontinued. Mepolizumab was discontinued after 2 years while monitoring her symptoms and eosinophil counts.

Idiopathic Hypereosinophilia: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis

PURPOSE

Physicians can sometimes encounter idiopathic hypereosinophilia (HE), but little is known about it. In this multicenter study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with idiopathic HE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with idiopathic HE (idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome: iHES or hypereosinophilia with undetermined significance: HEus) at six tertiary hospitals between January 2010 and June 2021 were included in this retrospective observational study. Demographics, clinical and laboratory data, and treatment responses were obtained from the electronic medical records of the study subjects.

RESULTS

A total of 73 patients with idiopathic HE (45 with iHES and 28 with HEus) were included in the present study. Overall, 12 (26.7%) and 5 (17.9%) were women, and mean age of patients at diagnosis was 51.84 ± 17.29 years and 60.21 ± 18.01 years in iHES and HEus groups, respectively. Forty-three (95.6%) patients of iHES and 15 (53.6%) patients of HEus received corticosteroids as 1st-line treatment. Treatment response to corticosteroids in patients with iHES was generally good: complete response (n=25, 58.1%), partial response (n=12, 27.9%), no response (n=6, 14.0%). Treatment response to corticosteroids in HEus was complete response (n=7, 46.7%), partial response (n=6, 40.0%), and no response (n=2, 13.3%). There were 13 patients (46.4%) with HEus who were not treated.

CONCLUSION

Corticosteroid treatment is generally effective and well tolerated by patients with iHES. Some patients with HEus are treated with corticosteroids in clinical practice. Extensive research is needed to establish a standardized management guidelines for iHES and determine whether treatment for HEus is required.

Clinical analysis of hypereosinophilic syndrome first presenting with asthma-like symptoms

INTRODUCTION

Clinical manifestations of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) are diverse. This study aimed to summarise these clinical characteristics with asthma-like onset as the first symptom, and compare these characteristics and treatment strategies between idiopathic and parasitic HES.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 36 HES patients with asthma-like symptoms as the first episode, between January 2013 and October 2019. Data of patients with HES of an unknown cause (idiopathic HES) and parasitic infection (parasite HES) were analysed.

RESULTS

The idiopathic and parasite HES groups included 16 and 20 patients, respectively, with more males in the parasite HES group (p < .05). Wheezing and dry rales was the most common symptom and signs, with no significant differences in symptoms and signs between the groups. The most often misdiagnosed disease was bronchial asthma. The peripheral blood eosinophil count was significantly increased compared with normal counts in both groups (p > .05). Abnormal pulmonary function is mainly manifested as obstructive ventilatory disorder and mixed ventilatory disorder. Chest computed tomography showed extensive ground-glass exudation, patches, consolidation, nodules, and pleural effusion. Histopathological examination showed eosinophilic infiltration without vasculitis or granuloma. Glucocorticoids had a significant therapeutic effect, and the parasite HES group required combined deworming drugs. The duration of corticosteroids therapy in the idiopathic HES group was significantly longer than that in the parasite HES group (p < .05). The overall prognosis was good, and 81.25% of the patients were clinically cured in the parasite HES group; however, relapse occurred easily in the idiopathic HES group.

CONCLUSIONS

Asthma-like symptoms, obstructive ventilatory disorder or positive bronchial dilation test, and poor response to inhaled corticosteroids are not necessarily indicative of refractory asthma; HES should be considered. The clinical characteristics of HES of different aetiologies are similar. Systemic corticosteroid therapy is preferred for idiopathic and parasitic infections. Idiopathic HES is treated with prolonged corticosteroids and relapses easily.Key MessagesAsthma-like symptoms, obstructive ventilatory disorder or positive bronchial dilation tests, and poor responses to inhaled corticosteroids are not necessarily indicative of refractory asthma, and hypereosinophilic syndrome should be considered.The clinical characteristics of hypereosinophilic syndrome of different aetiologies are similar, and systemic glucocorticoid therapy is preferred for both idiopathic and parasitic infections.Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is treated with prolonged corticosteroids and relapses easily.

Investigating Febrile Polyserositis: An Unusual Case of Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a heterogenous group of diseases characterized by abnormal accumulation of eosinophils in the blood or peripheral tissues. It can affect all organs and therefore clinical manifestations are highly variable. We describe the case of a 38-year-old man admitted for febrile polyserositis. He developed cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis complicated by left ventricle perforation which was successfully repaired. He presented mild peripheral eosinophilia. Bronchoalveolar lavage evidenced eosinophilic alveolitis, and pleural and pericardium histopathology revealed the presence of abundant eosinophils. All other causes of tissue eosinophilia were excluded and the diagnosis of idiopathic HES was made. The patient was started on glucocorticoids with resolution of symptoms. This case report describes a rare but potentially fatal presentation of HES and demonstrates the difficulty and delay in diagnosis when peripheral hypereosinophilia is absent.

LEARNING POINTS

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by abnormal accumulation of eosinophils in the blood or peripheral tissues.The clinical manifestations of HES are highly variable.It may be difficult to diagnose HES when peripheral hypereosinophilia is absent.