Elevated serum levels of interleukin-5 in patients with the syndrome of
episodic angioedema and eosinophilia
JH Butterfield, KM Leiferman, J Abrams, JE Silver, J Bower, N Gonchoroff and GJ Gleich
Division of Allergic Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic,
Rochester, MN 55905.
The syndrome of episodic angioedema and eosinophilia is characterized by
cyclic edema, marked peripheral blood eosinophilia, and eosinophil
degranulation in the dermis. Using a sensitive immunoenzymetric method, we
measured serum interleukin (IL)-5 levels in four patients with this
syndrome. We also determined the percentage of activated T cells in the
peripheral blood of a new patient before and during an attack. In the
patient presented, IL-5 levels peaked several days before maximal
eosinophilia and then declined. This patient's lymphocytes showed an
increased percentage, 28% (normal 2% to 3%), of activated T cells staining
for both CD3 and HLA-DR 10 days before maximal eosinophilia, but no
increase at the time of peak eosinophilia. In serum from three previously
reported cases, elevated serum IL-5 levels were found during attacks. After
glucocorticoid administration, IL-5 levels became undetectable in three of
the four patients. Production of IL-5 is likely an important determinant of
the pathophysiology of this syndrome.
Volume 79,
Issue 3,
pp. 688-692,
02/01/1992
Copyright © 1992 by The American Society of Hematology
