Mechanisms and Neuroimaging Patterns of Hypereosinophilia-Related Ischemic Stroke: A Narrative Review through Three Cases

Case Report: Hypereosinophilic syndrome vs. patent foramen ovale as etiopathogenetic contributors to stroke

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), characterized by an increased number of eosinophils in tissues and/or blood, presents with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Studies have shown that HES can affect the nervous system and may be associated with cerebral infarction. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common congenital intracardiac defect that can cause right-to-left shunting and contribute to the paradoxical embolization of venous emboli, and even lead to stroke. We report the case of a young man who presented with cerebral infarction accompanied by both HES and PFO. The patient underwent thorough evaluation to determine the source of emboli and the potential pathogenesis. In this case, HES was confirmed and glucocorticoid treatment was conducted. Direct imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed that the embolus originated from the PFO. Therefore, we performed PFO occlusion. The patient recovered well, and no new cerebral infarction was observed at 6-month follow-up. Based on the results of our study, we conclude that it is important to consider unusual etiologies of cerebral infarction, particularly in younger patients.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome with massive liver infarction: A case report

RATIONALE

Liver infarction caused only by hepatic artery occlusion is rare. Elevated levels of eosinophils in the blood and tissue can have devastating consequences.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Male, 21 years old, presented with persistent abdominal distension and discomfort for more than ten days without an apparent cause. Laboratory findings showed an eosinophil percentage of 32.5% (normal range 0.5%-5%). Computed tomographic angiography of the hepatic artery and its branches did not show any enhancement, only the common hepatic artery was visible.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient in this case had a peripheral blood eosinophil count of ≥1.5 × 109/L in multiple examinations over 6 months, and eosinophilic leukemia and secondary causes such as parasitic infections, allergic diseases, or tumors were ruled out, confirming the diagnosis of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES).

INTERVENTIONS

The patients were treated with interventional therapy, glucocorticoid pulse therapy and anti-infection therapy.

OUTCOMES

After interventional therapy, glucocorticoid pulse therapy, and anti-infection treatment, the patient was reexamined 2 months later. The CT scan showed that the range of the original infarction in the liver had shrunk compared to before, and the remaining liver had enlarged with good compensation; Laboratory tests improved compared with baseline: eosinophil percentage of 0.1%.

LESSONS

This article discusses a rare case of hepatic artery occlusion and liver infarction in a young male patient with HES. The cause of hepatic artery embolism and hepatic infarction may be related to the abnormal increase in eosinophils, which can lead to hypercoagulation and thrombus formation. The article emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment of HES to prevent life-threatening thrombotic events and describes the successful management of the patient condition through anticoagulation, anti-infection, liver protection, and glucocorticoid therapy.