Tuberc Respir Dis.
2005 Jul;59(1):97-103.
Progressive Lung Involvement during Steroid Therapy in Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. hs1017@ewha.ac.kr
- 2Department of Pathology College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Diagnostic Radiology of Medicine College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Neurology College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by a sustained eosinophilia of 1,500/mm3 or more in the absence of any known causes or the signs and symptoms of organ involvement. We report a 64-year-old man with HES initially presenting with involvement of the liver and bone marrow. Despite controlling the eosinophilia by corticosteroid, he developed a cerebral infarction and later progressive interstitial pneumonia. Brain angiography revealed a severe stenosis of the proximal right internal carotid artery (ICA) and a complete obstruction of the intracranial ICA. An open lung biopsy revealed fibrosis and lymphoplasma cell infiltration without eosinophils, which were consistent with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.