EOSINOPHILIC LEUKEMIA WITH TRISOMY-8 AND DOUBLE GAMMOPATHY

Prolonged eosinophilia of unknown cause has generally been described a s the hypereosinophilic syndrome, and is characterised by peripheral b lood and bone marrow infiltration and frequent multisystem disease. Th e nature of this disorder has been questioned, and the clinical featur es are quite variable, suggesting its heterogeneity and probable neopl astic aetiology. A patient with severe eosinophilia, karyotype abnorma lities, serum gammopathy and massive organ disease is reported. The cl inical course was aggressive despite cytoreduction of eosinophils and terminated in multisystem failure. These findings are consistent with a diagnosis of eosinophilic leukaemia, and it is suggested that chromo some and cell culture studies might be useful in the early diagnosis o f this controversial entity.