Loeffler endomyocarditis: A clinical presentation as right ventricular tumor

A four-year-old girl presented with an apical mass of the right ventricle, pulmonary embolism and hypereosinophilia, and was shown to be infected with Toxocara canis. Cardiac involvement was represented by endomyocardial fibr osis, mainly at the apex of the right ventricle, mural thrombi and tricuspi d regurgitation. Hypereosinophilia appears to be the head point at the basi s of multiple organ damage in Loeffler endomyocarditis. The disease mechani sm proposed is the eosinophilic production of peroxidases, which are cytoto xic when released in large amounts into the blood flow. Treatment is based on etiologic and corticosteroid therapy (prednisolone 1-2 mg/kg/day); surgi cal therapy is indicated in the end stages of the pathologic process.