The Syndrome, Tropical Eosinophilia and Microfilaria

Abstract

Summary Three cases of tropical eosinophilia are described. In one case microfilaria could be demonstrated in the eosinophilic abscesses and infiltrate in the enlarged axillary lymph glands. The clinical symptoms disappeared after treatment with mafarside. In a second case there was myeloid metaplasia of an axillary gland, consisting almost exclusively of eosinophilic myelocytes. In a third case, with wide spread enlargement of the lymph nodes, at first a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease was made; the clinical course and a second biopsy showed that it was a case of tropical eosinophilia. In a 4th case which came at autopsy after an automobile accident hypereosinophilia of the blood in the liver was present; the spleen was enlarged and the subcapsular pulp contained enormous numbers of eosinophilic leukocytes and microfilaria. Eosinophilia was also found in the members of the family. In accordance with the findings of Meyers and Kouwenaar, and of Bonne, the authors believe they have demonstrated the relationship between tropical eosinophilia and filariasis.