Activated eosinophils in the peripheral blood of a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome showing cytoplasmic clearing, nuclear dysplasia, and the presence of immature forms.
Hypereosinophilic syndrome is a disease characterized by a persistently elevated eosinophil count (≥ 1500 eosinophils/mm³) in the blood for at least six months without any recognizable cause, with involvement of either the heart, nervous system, or bone marrow.[5]
Hypereosinophilic syndrome can manifest in many different ways from nonspecific symptoms and fatigue to neurological impairment and endomyocardial fibrosis, which may be fatal.[6]
There are three different variants of hypereosinophilic syndrome, myeloproliferative, lymphocytic, and idiopathic.[7]
There are some associations with chronic eosinophilic leukemia[10] as it shows similar characteristics and genetic defects.[11] If left untreated, HES is progressive and fatal. It is treated with glucocorticoids such as prednisone.[8] The addition of the monoclonal antibody mepolizumab may reduce the dose of glucocorticoids.[12]
^ abFazel R, Dhaliwal G, Saint S, Nallamothu BK (May 2009). "Clinical problem-solving. A red flag". N. Engl. J. Med. 360 (19): 2005–10. doi:10.1056/NEJMcps0802754. PMID19420370.