[Lymphocytic variant of the hypereosinophilic syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
Hypereosinophilic syndromes (HSS) are a rare group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by prominent and persistent eosinophilia and organ dysfunction. Secondary causes of eosinophilia must be excluded. Recent advances in molecular biology and cytogenetics have permitted the characterization of different subsets of hypereosinophilic syndrome. We describe a patient with the lymphocytic variant.


METHODS
A 46-year old male Philippine patient presented skin lesions, fever, red eyes, enlarged lymph nodes and marked eosinophilia.


RESULTS
Lymphocytic phenotyping by flow cytometry analysis was performed on peripheral blood and an aberrant population of T lymphocytes CD3-CD4+ producing interleukin 5 was found. TCR gene rearrangement using PCR amplification confirmed T cell clonality.


CONCLUSIONS
The lymphocytic variant of the hypereosinophilic syndrome is a primitive lymphocytic disorder characterized by a non-malignant T cell population expansion producing eosinophilopoietic cytokines, with an indolent clinical course but that can transform into a peripheral T lymphoma. We report the first case of such a variant published in our country and review the characteristics of this variety.
Roldán Montaud
A
A
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, España.
Citores Sánchez
M J
MJ
Perales Fraile
I
I
Masip Marzá
V
V
Bellas Menéndez
C
C
Vargas Núñez
J A
JA
D000796:Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged