Vnitr Lek 2020, 66(3):e22-e27 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2020.055

Cardiac involvement in hypereosinophilia

Lenka Roblová, Petr Kuchynka, Jan Kuchař, Tomáš Paleček

II. interní klinika - klinika kardiologie a angiologie 1. LF UK a VFN Praha

Cardiac abnormalities associated with hypereosinophilia represent rare diseases and occurs most commonly due to hypersensitivity or allergic reactions, other possible etiologies cover infections, malignancy, vasculitis or hypereosinophilic syndromes. Three stages of cardiac involvement are usually described. Initially, myocardial inflammation occurs, that can continue with a thrombotic stage and eventually progress to the last irreversible stage called endomyocardial fibrosis, which represents one of the acquired forms of restrictive cardiomyopathy. In most patients, increased levels of eosinophils in the blood differential test; however, it may not be present in the initial stages of the disease. Of the imaging methods, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography combined with CT PET-CT are used in addition to echocardiography. Endomyocardial biopsy may be indicated for definitive evidence of eosinophilic myocarditis. The clarification of the cause of hypereosinophilia is necessary for specific treatment of this disorder.

Keywords: endomyocardial fibrosis, eosinophilic myocarditis, hypereosinophilia, restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Published: May 26, 2020  Show citation