[Gleich's syndrome].
BACKGROUND
Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia is a new syndrome associating hypereosinophilia, episodic angioedema and elevation of immunoglobulin M. This syndrome, first described by Gerald Gleich, has a good prognosis and no organ involvement.


METHODS
A 39-year old woman developed for 10 years, recurrent episodes of swelling, weight gain of 4 to 6 kg, hypereosinophilia and hyperimmunoglobulinemia M and G. All symptoms disappeared spontaneously within a few days. Numerous investigations (cutaneous, cardiac, pulmonary, immunologic, parasitologic) were negative. The patient was recently hospitalized because of increased recurrence of episodes and major discomfort. We noted hypereosinophilia up to 30. 731 eosinophils/mm(3), elevated lactate dehydrogenase to 902 U/l (N: 204-412), elevated eosinophile cationic protein to 371 microg/l (N<12) and elevated immunoglobulin E to 140 U/l (N<100). Renal, pulmonary and cardiac functions were normal. Bone marrow biopsy showed no abnormality.


CONCLUSIONS
Gleich's syndrome is a benign but often incapacitating disease of unknown etiology. Systemic glucocorticoids may control flare-ups.
Unité d'Allergologie, Division d'Immunologie et d'Allergologie, Département de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Cantonal de Genève, 24, rue Micheli-du-Crest, CH-1211 Genève 14.
S
S
Emonet
G
G
Kaya
C
C
Hauser
D000328:Adult; D000799:Angioedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase