Eosinophilia and the Heart: Evolving Concepts

This review summarises recent advances in cardiac involvement in eosinophilia, with particular emphasis on pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges and therapeutic options.

Up to 43% of patients with histologically proven eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) have no evidence of peripheral blood eosinophilia. Aberrations in the interleukin-5 pathway are central to the pathophysiology of EM. In addition, other contributing factors for specific aetiologies are being recognised, such as susceptibility loci GPA33 and IRF1/IL5 in patients with ANCA-negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. There is growing evidence for interleukin-5 pathway inhibition in disease management. EM carries a high mortality risk and thus, early identification of these patients, multidisciplinary collaboration and early initiation of targeted therapy are of utmost importance. Future studies are needed to investigate other therapeutic options, including long-acting anti-interleukin-5 inhibitors.