Hypereosinophilic syndrome

Overview

Hypereosinophilic (hy-per-ee-o-SIN-o-phil-ik) syndrome (HES) refers to a group of blood disorders that occur when you have high numbers of eosinophils — white blood cells that play an important role in your immune system. Over time, these high numbers of eosinophils enter various tissues, causing inflammation and eventually damaging your organs, most commonly targeting the skin, lung, heart, blood and nervous system. Hypereosinophilic syndrome can become life-threatening if not treated.

HES can affect anyone, but it occurs more often in men, usually between 20 and 50 years of age. Symptoms of HES vary, depending on what part of your body is affected. Skin symptoms include itching and rashes, for example. If your lungs are affected, you may be short of breath and have a cough.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for hypereosinophilic syndrome

• A team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors from several medical specialties work together to provide you with the best care possible for hypereosinophilic syndrome. Your team may include specialists in allergic diseases, dermatology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, neurology, endocrinology, hematology and pathology.
• Specialization. The Allergic Diseases Research Laboratory at Mayo Clinic has been actively studying eosinophil biology for almost 50 years, aiming to understand the role of eosinophils in diseases like hypereosinophilic syndrome.
• Cutting-edge medicine. The Allergic Diseases Research Laboratory has had a National Institutes of Health grant in allergic diseases since the 1980s and provides training for doctors from many medical disciplines, with the goals of finding new treatments and eventually curing diseases like hypereosinophilic syndrome.

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