title: Acute pulmonary embolism in a patient with hypereosinophilia and psoriasis.
abstract: Peripheral blood hypereosinophilia reflects various underlying disorders. However, its thromboembolic consequences are not often highlighted. We report a case of acute pulmonary embolism in a 42 year-old male prisoner hospitalized for erythrodermic psoriasis who presented with generalized edema and shortness of breath. Severe eosinophilia (absolute eosinophil count 6232/ΜL) was also noted. Although severe psoriasis can be associated with eosinophilia and metabolic syndrome, acute pulmonary embolism is very rare in these patients. Immobilization secondary to severe psoriatic arthritis and prolonged use of leg cuffs can exacerbate the formation of thromboembolism. Although investigating the underlying causes of eosinophilia is important, we would like to highlight the importance of being aware of thromboembolic events, especially in patients with other thrombotic risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Taipei, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Jheng-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rosaline Chung-Yee
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications