Cardiovascular manifestations of hypereosinophilic syndromes

The hypereosinophilic syndromes (HESS) are characterized by persistent marked eosinophilia (>1500 eosinophils/mm(3)), the absence of a primary cause of eosinophilia (such as parasitic or allergic disease), and evidence of eosinophil-mediated end organ damage. Cardiovascular complications of HES are a major source of morbidity, and mortality in these disorders. The most characteristic cardiovascular abnormality in HES is endomyocardial fibrosis. Patients who have an HES also may develop thrombosis, particularly in the cardiac ventricles, but also occasionally in deep veins. Because of the rarity of these disorders, specific guidelines for the management of the cardiac and thrombotic complications of HES are lacking. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of the cardiovascular manifestations of HES.