title: Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome revealed by encephalopathy.
abstract: Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by persistent hypereosinophilia ( ≥ 1500/mm(3)) with evidence of end-organ damage without a definite underlying cause. Hypereosinophilia-induced encephalopathy is a rare clinical syndrome. We present a male patient with idiopathic HES with distinctive encephalopathy who had hypereosinophilia for more than 6 months. Eosinophils in repeated blood tests were more than 1500/mm(3). He had hematological, brain, bone-marrow, and possible cardiac involvement. Although numerous efforts were made to identify the underlying cause of hypereosinophilia, specific causes could not be found in this patient. Bone-marrow analysis confirmed the diagnosis. The unique features were the prominent involvement of the cerebral cortex and the dramatic response to steroids with marked improvement of eosinophilia and brain function. The mechanisms of hypereosinophilia-induced encephalopathy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command, 212 Daguan Road, Kunming 650032, China.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jin-Cun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones