Description

Hypereosinophilic (hy-per-ee-oh-SIN-o-phil-ik) syndrome (HES) is a group of blood disorders that occur when you have a high number of eosinophils — white blood cells that play an important role in the immune system. Over time, the excess of eosinophils enter several tissues, eventually damaging their organs.

The most common objectives are the skin, the lungs, the digestive tract, the heart, the blood and the nervous system. This is not, HES can be fatal.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of HES may include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, rash and fever.

Causes

Some varieties of hypereosinophilic syndrome tend to occur in families. Other types have been associated with certain types of cancer, infections or other health problems.

Risk factors

HES can affect any person. But it occurs more often in men, usually between the ages of 20 and 50.

Diagnosis

Many types of disorders can raise your level of eosinophils, including certain infections, allergies, and reactions to medications. When trying to determine if you have the hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), your doctor may ask you about your travel history and any medications you are taking, help rule out these other causes.

Laboratory tests

Your doctor may also need information from some of the following laboratory tests:

  • Blood tests to detect autoimmune diseases, parasitic infections, or problems with your liver or kidneys
  • Allergy tests, to detect environmental or food allergies
  • The stool analysis, to detect parasitic infections such as hookworm
  • Genetic test, to check if there is a mutation in the gene that can cause HES

Imaging tests

Imaging tests may include:

  • The X-ray, to check the status of your lungs
  • CT scan, to detect problems in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis
  • Echocardiogram orMRI, to evaluate the function of the heart

Treatment

Treatment of the hypereosinophilic syndrome is aimed at the reduction of the number of eosinophils in the blood to prevent damage in the tissues, especially of his heart. The specific treatment depends on the symptoms, the severity of your condition and the cause of their HES .

If you have no symptoms and eosinophil count is quite low, which may require no treatment other than close monitoring of the changes associated with HES .

Drugs

Systemic corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are the first line of treatment. Other treatment options include:

  • Hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea, Siklos)
  • Imatinib (Gleevec)
  • Vincristine

Because HES may increase your risk of blood clots, you may also be prescribed blood thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Surgery and other procedures

If nothing else has worked, your doctor may suggest treatment with stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely that first bring your symptoms to the attention of your family doctor. Depending on your symptoms, you may be referred to the specialist in blood diseases (hematology), heart disease (cardiology) or allergies.

Consider taking a family member or friend along to the appointment to help you remember all of the information provided.

Here's some information to help you prepare for the appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • The signs and symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for the appointment
  • Medications, including vitamins, herbal and over-the-counter medications you are taking, and your dose
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent changes in your life

For the hypereosinophilic syndrome, some basic questions to ask the doctor include:

  • Will I need additional tests?
  • What are the treatment options?
  • What are the benefits and risks of each treatment?
  • Should I consult with other specialists? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

The doctor will probably ask you some questions. Be prepared to answer to allow time later to cover other points you want to address. Examples include:

  • When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
  • The symptoms are continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Have you traveled out of the country lately?
  • Do you have any allergies or skin conditions?
  • Have been exposed to parasites such as hookworm?
Symptoms and treatment of Hypereosinophilic syndrome