[A case of hypereosinophilic syndrome exhibiting left ventricular systolic dysfunction]

A 16-year-old woman suffering from bronchial asthma since 2 years previously was admitted to the hospital because of high grade fever, dyspnea, skin eruption and arthralgia. Laboratory data revealed pronounced eosinophilia with elevated immunoglobulin E value. A chest X-ray film showed cardiomegaly with pulmonary congestion. Left ventriculograms showed diffusely reduced motion of the left ventricle (LV). Various clinical symptoms and laboratory data were resolved shortly after the administration of corticosteroids, but the LV dysfunction persisted for at least three months. Left ventriculograms 2 years later disclosed a marked improvement of the LV wall motion. In both the acute and the chronic phase, endomyocardial biopsy of both ventricles revealed non-specific histological findings comprising disarrangement of myocytes and interstitial fibrosis, suggesting post-myocarditis. This case was characterized by LV dysfunction possibly due to eosinophilic myocarditis associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome, and by its functional improvement with long-term corticosteroid therapy.