A CLINICOPATHOLOGIC CORRELATION OF THE IDIOPATHIC HYPEREOSINOPHILIC SYNDROME .2. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (5) , 1021-1026
Abstract
The clinical and hematologic features at admission and the subsequent clinical courses of 32 patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome were reviewed in an effort to determine which features suggest a more rapidly progressive course. A grading system based on 22 clinical features involving the 8 organ systems commonly affected by the illness was devised. The disease followed a more aggressive course in patients with evidence of cardiac or neurologic dysfunction at the time of initial evaluation. Although splenomegaly, in and of itself, caused little morbidity, splenic enlargement at presentation appeared to be a predicator of a more aggressive course. The clinical grading system accurately predicted which patients would require no specific antihypereosinophilic therapy, which patients would respond adequately to corticosteroids, and which patients would require therapy with cytotoxic agents. This clinical grading system and the hematologic grading system outlined should be used as aids in the selection of initial therapy in this group of patients.