EOSINOPHILIA-HEPATOMEGALY SYNDROME OF INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN

Abstract

Attention is directed to the existence of a recently recognized syndrome in infants and young children with the prominent features of chronic eosinophilia, hepatomegaly, liver biopsy findings of eosinophilic infiltrative and granulomatous lesions, a benign course, and occasionally symptoms and signs of transient pneumonitis. An analysis of 15 reported cases with the syndrome is presented, including the report of a case due to an unidentified nematode larva, but probably Toxocara canis, invading the liver. Signs and symptoms, pathology, pathogenesis, etiology, course and prognosis, and treatment are discussed. Evidence is preponderantly in favor of the etiology in all cases being nematode larvae invasions of the liver and other viscera. These cases cause conjecture as to whether other diseases of chronic eosinophilia, such as Löffler's syndrome, tropical eosinophilia, familial eosinophilia and pseudoleukemic cosinophilia, may not also be due to visceral nematode larvae migrations. Further investigation is warranted in these diseases.