[Hypereosinophilia with myocardial involvement due to toxocariasis. Diagnosis of regional myocardial perfusion abnormalities by pulsed tissue Doppler echocardiography].
METHODS
The case of a 57-year-old woman is reported who was admitted for peripheral hypereosinophilia.


METHODS
Detailed investigations revealed first of all a hypereosinophilic syndrome with infiltration of bone marrow and lung. The patient suffered more and more from angina pectoris with signs of heart failure. Coronary angiography was therefore carried out which showed normal coronary arteries. With suspicion of myocardial involvement endomyocardial biopsies were performed which revealed the presence of Löfflers endocarditis parietalis fibroplastica. Finally, serological studies for parasites disclosed a positive ELISA test for Toxocara, confirmed later to be rising.


CONCLUSIONS
Myocardial involvement of hypereosinophilia, caused by Toxocara is not described until now. Further diagnostic by means of pulsed wave tissue Doppler echocardiography provided regional differentiation of a restrictive filling pattern which documented the importance of this new diagnostic tool in myocardial illness.
Thomas
K
K
Medizinische Klinik II mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Nixdorff
U
U
Manger
B
B
Geiler
T
T
Lorenz
H M
HM
Faller
G
G
Moshage
W
W
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D002313:Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth