Imatinib Treatment in PDGFRA-Negative Childhood Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

Hypereosinophilia and severe bone disease in an African child: an unexpected diagnosis

Hypereosinophilic syndromes are rare in children. Sporadic, mild-severity FIP1L1-platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) rearrangement cases have been reported, mainly in boys. We present the case of a 5-year-old girl referred from her African country of birth, due to severe constitutional symptoms, multifocal bone pain, headache, gastrointestinal complaints, cardiomyopathy and unexplained hypereosinophilia. She presented multiple end-organ diseases and striking bone involvement. Although she had a positive serology for Strongyloides stercoralis, extensive evaluation detected a FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene. Systemic corticosteroids and low-dose imatinib were started and the child became asymptomatic. After 9 months of treatment, FIP1L1-PDGFRA was no longer detected.