Abstract
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.
