Hypereosinophilic syndrome in a trisomy 21 fetus.
BACKGROUND
Hypereosinophilic syndrome is characterized by peripheral blood eosinophilia and multiple organ system involvement. Only one case in a newborn has been reported.


METHODS
Fetal sonography performed on a 33-year-old woman at 35 weeks' gestation showed pericardial effusion and cardiomegaly. The infant was delivered by cesarean at 35 weeks' gestation because of a worsening of the pericardial effusion. Hematologic studies revealed unexplained hypereosinophilia, and the pericardial fluid contained a large number of eosinophils. Chromosomal analysis revealed trisomy 21. The hypereosinophilia, pericardial effusion, and cardiomegaly all resolved after 8 weeks of steroid therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypereosinophilic syndrome caused pericardial effusion and cardiomegaly in a fetus with trisomy 21.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shigenobu, Japan.
Y
Y
Kusanagi
H
H
Ochi
K
K
Matsubara
M
M
Ito
D000328:Adult; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*