pmc logo imageJournal ListSearchpmc logo image
Logo of nheartjJournal URL: redirect3.cgi?&&auth=06UQBAyf-rfF0nZE0gdMlWfQCQKOfer7YnIxtC5pA&reftype=publisher&article-id=2669247&issue-id=178192&journal-id=384&FROM=Article|Banner&TO=Publisher|Other|N%2FA&rendering-type=normal&&http://www.nhj.nl
Neth Heart J. 2009 April; 17(4): 169–170.
PMCID: PMC2669247
Hypereosinophilic syndrome with characteristic left ventricular thrombus demonstrated by contrast echocardiography
J.C. Adams,1 J.P. Dal-Bianco,1 G. Kumar,2 and M.J. Callahan2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
2Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
Correspondence to: J.C. Adams Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA Email: E-mail: adams.jonathon/at/mayo.edu
Abstract
Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare condition characterised by idiopathic eosinophilia with organ system involvement. The condition is far more common in males, with a typical onset in the third to sixth decade. Cardiac damage may result in the formation of a characteristic apical thrombus readily visualised on two-dimensional echocardiography. Cardiac involvement portends a less favourable prognosis as it can be complicated by acute embolic events and progressive development of restrictive cardiomyopathy, valvular dysfunction, and heart failure. In this case report, we describe a middle-aged gentleman with HES and characteristic apical thrombus identified on contrast echocardiography. Although the use of contrast agents for assessment of left ventricular thrombus is documented in the literature,1 this case illustrates the application of contrast echocardiography in the evaluation of eosinophilia. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:169-70.)
Keywords: left ventricular thrombus, hypereosinophilic syndrome, contrast echocardiography