Impaired type-1 activity and increased NK cells in Gleich's syndrome

Clinical characteristics of angioedema with eosinophilia

Angioedema with eosinophilia (AE) is a very rare allergy disease, case reports of which have been published sporadically since 1984. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 10 AE patients in Korea. Nine of the 10 subjects were young females, ranging from 23 to 38 years old. Twenty percent of the subjects had episodic-type AE with high serum IgM and eosinophil counts, while 80% were non-episodic type with normal serum IgM levels but high eosinophil counts. All patients had used systemic corticosteroids to control AE. One patient with refractory episodic-type AE was treated with anti-IgE antibody. This is the first study to evaluate the clinical characteristics of AE in a Korean population.

Effectiveness of a combination of cyclosporine A, suplatast tosilate and prednisolone on periodic oscillating hypereosinophilia

We report the treatment course of a 29-year-old man who has had unique oscillating FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene-negative hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) for nearly 6 years. His periodic oscillating pattern of eosinophilia associated with angioedematous soft tissue swelling has shown two to three seasonal peaks (>15,000/μL absolute eosinophil counts [AEC]) a year. Initially, the patient, who was thought to have distinct HES not compatible with previously described cases, did not respond to treatment except for a temporary response to imatinib mesylate. For 6 years, from 2005 to 2010, he was treated with a combination of oral cyclosporine A, suplatast tosilate, and a small dose of prednisolone, which significantly reduced the peak heights of AEC as well as blunting the oscillating patterns.

[Gleich's syndrome: a case report]

The Gleich's syndrome is a rare disease that causes recurrent angioedema associated with major eosinophilia with good response to corticosteroids. We describe a 53-year-old man who presented with a Gleich's syndrome with a 6-year follow-up and propose a literature review. This case emphazises the favourable prognosis of this disease. In case of poor tolerance of corticosteroids, mepolizumab could be tested.

Cytokine-associated angioedema syndromes including episodic angioedema with eosinophilia (Gleich's Syndrome)

Angioedema can be associated with many disorders and the presentation can be variable. Subsets of the angioedema syndromes are thought to be cytokine mediated (Table 1). Of these, the best described are the episodic angioedema with eosinophilia syndrome (Gleich's syndrome) and non-episodic angioedema with eosinophilia, which share some common features, but appear to have differences in pathophysiology. NERDS (nodules, eosinophilia, rheumatism, dermatitis and swelling), Clarkson syndrome (idiopathic capillary leak syndrome), and angioedema associated with aldesleukin (human recombinant IL-2) and IFN-alpha have also been reported in the literature, and have been discussed in this review. There is still much to be learned about the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with these disorders. Our hope is that this review will be of help to those readers who care for patients with these disorders, and will stimulate interest in further research into the pathophysiology of these conditions.

Case 30: hypereosinophilia

A young man presented with systemic symptoms and marked eosinophilia. Subsequently cyclical weight gain and edema contributed to a diagnosis.

[Recurrent angioedema and hypereosinophilia]

INTRODUCTION

Among the various causes of eosinophilia are the syndrome first described by Gleich in 1984. This syndrome is characterized by angioedema of the face, neck, extremities and trunk, weight gain, hypereosinophilia (60-70%), fever, and increased serum IgM levels without involvement of the vital organs.

CASE REPORT

A 17-year-old non-allergic woman was referred to our hospital for further investigation of recurrent angioedema, initially of the hands and feet and subsequently of the face, with onset 3 years previously. The attacks had become more frequent and severe and had occurred monthly in the previous year. The patient also showed general malaise, without fever. Complementary investigations revealed eosinophils 40.8%, total count 3,300/mm3, and serum IgM levels 343 mg/dl (normal range: 53-300 mg/dl). Possible causes of hypereosinophilia and eosinophilic infiltration of vital organs were ruled out. The patient was treated with oral corticosteroids which produced clinical remission and reduction of eosinophil count (1.7%, total 200/mm3).

DISCUSSION

Gleich syndrome is uncommon and has well-defined clinical features and a benign course. We describe a patient who presented the clinical characteristics of this syndrome with good response to steroids and without involvement of vital organs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our patient presented clinical features compatible with a diagnosis of Gleich syndrome. Other entities associated with hypereosinophilia were ruled out.

Le syndrome de Gleich. Un cas et revue de la littérature

INTRODUCTION

The Gleich syndrome associates episodic angioedema, hypereosinophilia and elevation of immunoglobulin M. It's a rare cause of nonallergic angioedema and is characterised by no organ involvement.

EXEGESIS

We report a case of a 27-years-old african women, with five years history of recurrent angioedema of face and extremities, associated with a major hypereosinophilia. Serum IgM elevation, elimination of other etiologies and spectacular response to corticoid treatment permitted to retain diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The majority of cases of Gleich syndrome were reported in USA, Europe and Japan. The nonepisodic angioedema, which is not accompanied by elevation of immunoglobulin M, was described in Japan. There are currently no case reported in Africa where parasites are the principal cause of hypereosinophilia. The immunohistochemical studies permit to explain cytochemical disturbances responsible for the release of disease whose initial mechanism is unknown.

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy suppresses manifestations of the angioedema with hypereosinophilia syndrome

Angioedema with hypereosinophilia syndrome has a dramatic clinical presentation that may result from T-cell dysregulation and/or eosinophil dysfunction. Symptoms may be either episodic or persistent and are usually responsive to systemic glucocorticosteroid therapy. This diabetic patient had a dramatically severe presentation, responsive to high-dose steroids but relapsing when prednisone was tapered. To decrease his risks from long-term steroids, a therapeutic trial of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was tried, and a slow taper off of glucocorticosteroids achieved a prolonged remission. A brief recurrence and subsequent remission of eosinophilia and symptoms were associated with changes in the IVIG preparation lot and source. We conclude that some cases of angioedema with hypereosinophilia syndrome may be highly responsive to IVIG therapy and, furthermore, that specific sources and/or lots of IVIG may have significantly different immunoregulatory properties.