Hypereosinophilic syndrome is a group of blood disorders that occurs when you have a large number of eosinophils (white blood cells that play an important role in the immune system). Over time, the excess eosinophils enter various tissues, eventually damaging the organs.
The most common targets are the skin, lungs, digestive tract, heart, blood, and nervous system. If left untreated, the HES can put life at risk.
The first symptoms of hypereosinophilic syndrome They can include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, rash, and fever.
Many types of disorders can raise the level of eosinophils, including certain infections, allergies, and drug reactions. When trying to determine if you have hypereosinophilic syndrome, your doctor will likely ask about your travel history and any medications you’re taking to rule out these other causes.
The doctor may also need information from some of the following laboratory tests:
Blood test, to check for autoimmune conditions, parasitic infections, or problems with the liver or kidneys
allergy tests, to detect environmental or food allergies
stool tests, to detect parasitic infections such as hookworm infection
genetic test, to check for a genetic mutation that can cause hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES)
Imaging tests may include the following:
X-rays, to check the state of your lungs
computed tomography to check for problems in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis
echocardiogram or magnetic resonance to assess heart function
The goal of treatment for hypereosinophilic syndrome is to reduce the number of eosinophils in the body and prevent tissue damage, especially the heart. Specific treatment depends on the symptoms, the severity of the disorder, and the source of the disorder. hypereosinophilic syndrome .
If you don’t have symptoms and your eosinophil count is low enough, you may not need any treatment other than close monitoring for any changes related to the eosinophils. hypereosinophilic syndrome .
Systemic corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are the first-line treatment. Other treatment options include:
Hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea, Siklos)
Imatinib (Gleevec)
vincristine
Because the hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) can increase the risk of blood clots, you may be prescribed blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin).
If nothing else works, your doctor might suggest a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
