[Episodic angioedema associated with eosinophilia in relapsing erythema and swelling of the right thigh].
On March 16, 2000, a 37-year-old male was admitted to another hospital for fever, erythema of the limbs, and swelling of the right lower leg. The leukocyte count was 19,800/microliter, and the ratio of eosinophils was 61%, suggesting marked eosinophilia. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) revealed pneumonia in the left lung. However, the patient was negative for autoantibodies or parasitic antibodies. Administration of prednisolone at 80 mg/day resulted in a marked improvement of the symptoms and the eosinophilia. For diagnosis, detailed examination, and treatment, the patient was referred and admitted to our department on March 28. The dose of prednisolone was gradually decreased. On April 15, the agent was discontinued. Eosinophilia was not observed, however erythema of the limbs and swelling of the right lower leg recurred. Skin biopsy revealed in mild edema of the corium and eosinophilic infiltration, suggesting episodic angioedema associated with eosinophilia (EAE). In 1984, Greich et al. reported 4 patients with repeated angioedema, hives, and marked eosinophilia, and proposed the term EAE. Since then, more than 50 patients have been reported in Japan. Only 4 of these patients were males. We report on the present male patient together with the pathological findings.
Kawaguchi
Yasuhisa
Y
Department of Hematology, Molecular Medicine Unit, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University School of Medicine.
Miyazaki
Yasushi
Y
Kuriyama
Kazutaka
K
Tomonaga
Masao
M
D000328:Adult; D000799:Angioedema / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013848:Thigh / Q000473:pathology