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<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">abcimg</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>ABC Imagem Cardiovascular</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc.</abbrev-journal-title></journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="epub">2675-312X</issn>
<publisher>
<publisher-name>Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia</publisher-name></publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abcimg.20240055i</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">abcimg.20240055i</article-id>
<article-categories>
<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Case Report</subject>
</subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Aortic Valvulitis in Hypereosinophilic Syndrome: A Case Report</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0009-0000-4103-0378</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Bergier</surname><given-names>Mariano Gaston</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="c1"/>
<role>Conception and design of the research</role>
<role>acquisition of data</role>
<role>analysis and interpretation of the data</role>
<role>writing of the manuscript and critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0001-5806-2755</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Blanco</surname><given-names>Rocío</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<role>Conception and design of the research</role>
<role>acquisition of data</role>
<role>analysis and interpretation of the data</role>
<role>writing of the manuscript and critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0003-1186-4376</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Decotto</surname><given-names>Santiago</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<role>Conception and design of the research</role>
<role>acquisition of data</role>
<role>analysis and interpretation of the data</role>
<role>writing of the manuscript and critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0002-8549-9239</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Arias</surname><given-names>Anibal</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<role>Conception and design of the research</role>
<role>acquisition of data</role>
<role>analysis and interpretation of the data</role>
<role>writing of the manuscript and critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content</role>
</contrib>
<aff id="aff1">
<label>1</label>
<institution content-type="orgname">Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires</institution>
<addr-line>
<named-content content-type="city">Buenos Aires</named-content>
</addr-line>
<country country="AR">Argentina</country>
<institution content-type="original">Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires – Argentina</institution>
</aff>
</contrib-group>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="c1"><label>Mailing Address:</label> <bold>Mariano Gaston Bergier</bold> • Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Perón 4190. Postal code: <postal-code>C1199ABB</postal-code>. Buenos Aires – Argentina E-mail: <email>mariano.bergier@hospitalitaliano.org.ar</email></corresp>
<fn fn-type="conflict"><label>Potential Conflict of Interest</label><p>No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="edited-by"><label>Editor responsible for the review:</label><p>Marcelo Tavares</p></fn>
</author-notes>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub">
<day>20</day>
<month>09</month>
<year>2024</year></pub-date>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="collection">
<year>2024</year></pub-date>
<volume>37</volume>
<issue>3</issue>
<elocation-id>e20240055</elocation-id>
<history>
<date date-type="received">
<day>07</day>
<month>06</month>
<year>2024</year>
</date>
<date date-type="rev-recd">
<day>29</day>
<month>07</month>
<year>2024</year>
</date>
<date date-type="accepted">
<day>18</day>
<month>08</month>
<year>2024</year>
</date>
</history>
<permissions>
<license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" xml:lang="en">
<license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License</license-p>
</license>
</permissions>
<kwd-group xml:lang="en">
<title>Keywords</title>
<kwd>Hypereosinophilic Syndrome</kwd>
<kwd>Aortic Valve Disease</kwd>
<kwd>Stroke</kwd>
</kwd-group>
<counts>
<fig-count count="8"/>
<table-count count="0"/>
<equation-count count="0"/>
<ref-count count="7"/>
</counts>
</article-meta>
</front>
<body>
<sec sec-type="intro">
<title>Introduction</title>
<p>Hypereosinophilic syndromes are characterized by the sustained overproduction of eosinophils, which can infiltrate various organs and release toxins that damage tissues.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> Causes of increased eosinophils include 1) primary or neoplastic causes (e.g., stem cell, myeloid, or eosinophil neoplasia, and clonal disorders); 2) secondary or reactive causes (e.g., parasitic infections, solid tumors, and T-cell lymphomas); 3) idiopathic causes: part of specific syndromes (e.g., Churg-Strauss); and 4) hypereosinophilia of unknown significance, when there is no organic damage.</p>
<p>When specifically discussing rheumatic syndromes, the most common one is eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, formerly known as Churg-Strauss disease. This vasculitis affects small and medium-sized arteries, primarily affecting the skin and lungs. However, it is a multisystem disorder that can affect kidneys, heart, and nervous system as well. This condition is often associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, and eosinophilia. ANCA antibodies are usually present, except in cases where the heart is involved. In such cases, ANCA antibodies are usually negative, but eosinophil counts remain elevated. Whenever possible, confirmatory diagnosis should be confirmed through an endomyocardial biopsy.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup></p>
<p>Cardiac involvement occurs in approximately 5% of cases and is often associated with eosinophilic myocarditis, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hypereosinophilic syndromes. Eosinophilic myocarditis clinically progresses through three stages: 1) acute necrotic stage, characterized by eosinophil infiltration, toxin release, and necrosis, often asymptomatic; 2) intermediate or thrombotic stage, marked by the formation of intracardiac thrombi, with potential detachment and embolization; and 3) fibrotic stage, which involves subendocardial or valvular fibrosis and may lead to valvular insufficiency and heart failure.</p>
<p>While endomyocardial biopsy provides a definitive diagnosis, imaging techniques such as transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help identify disease-related effects such as intracardiac thrombi, subendocardial fibrosis, or thickening of the posterior mitral valve or posterior wall. <sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref></sup></p>
<p>A clinical case of a patient with hypereosinophilia and transient involvement of the aortic valve is presented.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="cases">
<title>Case Report</title>
<p>An 81-year-old female patient with a history of adult-onset asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, idiopathic sensory neuropathy, and cognitive impairment presented with decreased strength in her left upper limb following a fall five days prior to the consultation.</p>
<p>On physical examination, she was hemodynamically stable but had left brachial (0/5) and left femoral (3/5) paresis. Laboratory results showed a hematocrit of 34.8%, leukocytosis of 16,000/mm<sup>3</sup> with 56% eosinophils, platelets of 153,900/mm<sup>3</sup>, serum creatinine of 1.12 mg/dL, and a brain natriuretic peptide (ProBNP) level of over 35,000 pg/mL (normal range up to 750 pg/mL in individuals over 75 years of age). High-sensitivity troponin was elevated to 322 pg/mL (99th percentile &lt; 14 pg/mL). Chest X-ray showed a slight increase in cardiothoracic ratio, with mild evidence of flow redistribution to the upper lung fields. Electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm, left axis deviation, narrow QRS complex, and poor R wave progression in the precordial leads without ST-T segment abnormalities.</p>
<p>A brain MRI was performed based on physical examination findings. It showed diffusion restriction in several cortical and subcortical regions, including the semioval centers, bilateral occipital cortex, bilateral cerebellum, and border zones in both cerebral hemispheres (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">Figure 1</xref>). These findings were consistent with an ischemic stroke of probable embolic origin. A transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram subsequently revealed diffuse hypokinesis with an anteroseptal defect and mild left ventricular dysfunction, along with mild to moderate mitral regurgitation. Notably, there was significant diffuse and irregular thickening of the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve associated with severe regurgitation, findings not seen in previous studies (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f2">Figure 2</xref>). Blood cultures were negative.</p>
<fig id="f1">
<label>Figure 1</label>
<caption><title>Nuclear MRI: Multiple cortico-subcortical hyperintense lesions on T2 and FLAIR sequences, with restricted diffusion, observed in both cerebral hemispheres. These lesions are distributed in border zone or watershed infarct territories.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf01.tif"/>
</fig>
<fig id="f2">
<label>Figure 2</label>
<caption><title>Sclerosis and thickening throughout the entire extent of the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve (indicated by arrows). Improvement is observed after treatment with glucocorticoids. Panels A and C show the condition before treatment, while panels B and D show the improvement after the initiation of treatment.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf02.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>Because of the patient&apos;s history of asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and idiopathic sensory neuropathy, along with marked hypereosinophilia, the diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis was considered. Antinuclear antibody levels were negative, and viral and parasitic infections were excluded. A bone marrow biopsy showed a marked increase in eosinophils with dysplastic changes, but no clonality.</p>
<p>In the presence of a possibly rheumatic hypereosinophilic syndrome, patient was started on empirical treatment with intravenous glucocorticoids, which normalized the eosinophil count within 24 hours (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">Figure 3</xref>). A repeat transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram performed 72 hours after initiation of treatment showed a significant reduction in aortic valve involvement (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f2">Figure 2</xref>).</p>
<fig id="f3">
<label>Figure 3</label>
<caption><title>Historical trend of eosinophil count over time (in red), with the lowest range indicated in blue and the highest range in green. Figure highlights hypereosinophilia with fluctuations throughout the patient&apos;s medical history. Red arrow points to a sharp decrease in eosinophil count following corticosteroid treatment.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf03.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>Further evaluation with contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI showed late gadolinium enhancement with a subendocardial pattern, predominantly in septal segments, suggesting fibrosis probably related to hypereosinophilic syndrome. However, the possibility of subendocardial injury from another cause could not be completely excluded. Left ventricular systolic function was severely impaired, with an ejection fraction of 25% due to global hypokinesia. Fat-suppressed T2-weighted images suggested a slight prolongation of relaxation times, but this was not confirmed by mapping techniques (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f4">Figure 4</xref>). Because of the patient&apos;s age and frailty, coronary angiography and endomyocardial biopsy were not performed.</p>
<fig id="f4">
<label>Figure 4</label>
<caption><title>Nuclear MRI: Severe impairment of left ventricular systolic function (LV ejection fraction 25%) due to global hypokinesis. Panel 4A shows the heart at the end of diastole, and panel 4B shows it at the end of systole. Late gadolinium enhancement sequences (panel 4C) reveal subendocardial enhancement in the basal and medial septal segments, consistent with myocardial fibrosis, indicated by the three red arrows. Fibrosis is likely related to hypereosinophilia, although an ischemic origin cannot be entirely ruled out.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf04.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>The patient showed clinical improvement and was discharged with prescriptions for oral glucocorticoids and anti-remodeling medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers). She continues to be followed on an outpatient basis by cardiology, neurology, and rheumatology with good progress and no relapses.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="discussion">
<title>Discussion</title>
<p>While there are reports in the literature of myocardial and mitral valve involvement associated with this hematological syndrome, valvular involvement generally results from changes in ventricular remodeling and subsequent tenting of the posterior mitral valve leaflet. In this case, the involvement occurred on the aortic valve, and the thickening and restriction of valve mobility were reversible with medical treatment with corticosteroids. The response to this empirical treatment raised suspicion of an inflammatory-prothrombotic process occurring on the valvular endocardial surface. Although we lack pathological confirmation of this mechanism, the reduction in eosinophil counts in response to treatment, and its timing with the administration of corticosteroids, support a dose-response phenomenon. While we cannot rule out the presence of thrombosis by another mechanism, we believe this differential diagnosis should be considered due to the therapeutic implications.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref></sup></p>
<p>Regarding the patient&apos;s acute cerebral event, strokes in border zone or watershed territories are typically hemodynamic in origin, often following cardiac arrest. However, the patient did not exhibit any hemodynamic disturbances that could justify such an event. Other potential causes of ischemic stroke in this context include intracardiac embolism secondary to endomyocardial fibrosis or toxic endothelitis caused by the release of eosinophil-derived cytokines.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref></sup></p>
<p>Although the subendocardial enhancement pattern on imaging could suggest ischemic necrosis, the extent of ventricular dysfunction and the limited area affected by focal fibrosis argue against this hypothesis. Because of the patient&apos;s frailty, coronary angiography was not performed, leaving some uncertainty.</p>
<p>The significant elevation of biomarkers such as ProBNP and high-sensitivity troponin, together with global ventricular dysfunction, raised the suspicion of eosinophilic myocarditis. However, this diagnosis was not confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy. Similarly, fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging suggested a slight prolongation of relaxation times, although mapping techniques could not confirm this finding.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="conclusions">
<title>Conclusion</title>
<p>This case presents a patient with a history of asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and sensory neuropathy who developed hypereosinophilia and ischemic stroke in border zone territories. Notably, thickening and dysfunction of the aortic valve were observed, an uncommon manifestation of hypereosinophilic myocarditis. The clinical symptoms and imaging findings improved with glucocorticoid treatment, suggesting a rheumatologic origin for the valvular and cerebrovascular involvement in this patient.</p>
</sec>
</body>
<back>
<fn-group>
<fn fn-type="financial-disclosure" id="fn1"><label>Sources of Funding</label><p>There were no external funding sources for this study.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn2"><label>Study Association</label><p>This study is not associated with any thesis or dissertation work.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn3"><label>Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate</label><p>This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.</p></fn>
</fn-group>
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<sub-article article-type="translation" id="S1" xml:lang="pt">
<front-stub>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abcimg.20240055</article-id>
<article-categories>
<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Relato de Caso</subject>
</subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Valvulite Aórtica na Síndrome Hipereosinofílica: Relato de Caso</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0009-0000-4103-0378</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Bergier</surname><given-names>Mariano Gaston</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="c2"/>
<role>Concepção e desenho da pesquisa</role>
<role>obtenção de dados</role>
<role>análise e interpretação dos dados</role>
<role>redação do manuscrito e revisão crítica do manuscrito quanto ao conteúdo intelectual importante</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0001-5806-2755</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Blanco</surname><given-names>Rocío</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<role>Concepção e desenho da pesquisa</role>
<role>obtenção de dados</role>
<role>análise e interpretação dos dados</role>
<role>redação do manuscrito e revisão crítica do manuscrito quanto ao conteúdo intelectual importante</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0003-1186-4376</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Decotto</surname><given-names>Santiago</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<role>Concepção e desenho da pesquisa</role>
<role>obtenção de dados</role>
<role>análise e interpretação dos dados</role>
<role>redação do manuscrito e revisão crítica do manuscrito quanto ao conteúdo intelectual importante</role>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0002-8549-9239</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Arias</surname><given-names>Anibal</given-names></name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<role>Concepção e desenho da pesquisa</role>
<role>obtenção de dados</role>
<role>análise e interpretação dos dados</role>
<role>redação do manuscrito e revisão crítica do manuscrito quanto ao conteúdo intelectual importante</role>
</contrib>
<aff id="aff2">
<label>1</label>
<addr-line>
<named-content content-type="city">Buenos Aires</named-content>
</addr-line>
<country country="AR">Argentina</country>
<institution content-type="original">Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires – Argentina</institution>
</aff>
</contrib-group>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="c2"><label>Correspondência:</label> <bold>Mariano Gaston Bergier</bold> • Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Perón 4190. CEP: <postal-code>C1199ABB</postal-code>. Buenos Aires – Argentina E-mail: <email>mariano.bergier@hospitalitaliano.org.ar</email></corresp>
<fn fn-type="conflict"><label>Potencial Conflito de Interesse</label><p>Declaro não haver conflito de interesses pertinentes.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="edited-by"><label>Editor responsável pela revisão:</label><p>Marcelo Tavares</p></fn>
</author-notes>
<kwd-group xml:lang="pt">
<title>Palavras-chave</title>
<kwd>Síndrome Hipereosinofílica</kwd>
<kwd>Valvopatia Aórtica</kwd>
<kwd>Acidente Vascular Cerebral</kwd>
</kwd-group>
</front-stub>
<body>
<sec sec-type="intro">
<title>Introdução</title>
<p>As síndromes hipereosinofílicas são caracterizadas pela produção excessiva e sustentada de eosinófilos, que podem infiltrar diversos órgãos e liberar toxinas que danificam os tecidos.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> As causas do aumento de eosinófilos incluem: 1) causas primárias ou neoplásicas (por exemplo, neoplasia de células-tronco, mieloide ou de eosinófilos, e distúrbios clonais); 2) causas secundárias ou reativas (por exemplo, infecções parasitárias, tumores sólidos e linfomas de células T); 3) causas idiopáticas: parte de síndromes específicas (p. ex., Churg-Strauss); e 4) hipereosinofilia de significado desconhecido, quando não há dano orgânico.</p>
<p>Ao se discutir especificamente as síndromes reumáticas, a mais comum é a granulomatose eosinofílica com poliangiite, anteriormente conhecida como síndrome de Churg-Strauss. Essa vasculite afeta artérias de pequeno e médio calibre, atingindo principalmente a pele e os pulmões. No entanto, trata-se de um distúrbio multissistêmico que pode afetar também os rins, o coração e o sistema nervoso. Essa condição é frequentemente associada à rinossinusite crônica, asma e eosinofilia. Os anticorpos ANCA geralmente estão presentes, exceto nos casos em que o coração está envolvido. Nessas situações, os anticorpos ANCA geralmente são negativos, mas a contagem de eosinófilos permanece elevada. Sempre que possível, o diagnóstico deve ser confirmado por biópsia endomiocárdica.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup></p>
<p>O envolvimento cardíaco ocorre em aproximadamente 5% dos casos e é frequentemente associado à miocardite eosinofílica, a principal causa de morbidade e mortalidade nas síndromes hipereosinofílicas. A miocardite eosinofílica progride clinicamente através de três estágios: 1) estágio necrótico agudo, caracterizado por infiltração de eosinófilos, liberação de toxinas e necrose, muitas vezes assintomático; 2) estágio intermediário ou trombótico, marcado pela formação de trombos intracardíacos, com possível destacamento e embolização; e 3) estágio fibrótico, que envolve fibrose subendocárdica ou valvar e pode levar à insuficiência valvar e insuficiência cardíaca.</p>
<p>Embora a biópsia endomiocárdica forneça um diagnóstico definitivo, técnicas de imagem, como a ecocardiografia Doppler transtorácica e a ressonância magnética (RM), podem ajudar a identificar efeitos relacionados à doença, como trombos intracardíacos, fibrose subendocárdica ou espessamento da valva mitral posterior ou da parede posterior.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref></sup></p>
<p>Um caso clínico de uma paciente com hipereosinofilia e envolvimento transitório da valva aórtica é apresentado.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="cases">
<title>Relato de Caso</title>
<p>Uma paciente de 81 anos, com histórico de asma de início na vida adulta, rinossinusite crônica, neuropatia sensorial idiopática e comprometimento cognitivo, apresentou diminuição da força no membro superior esquerdo após uma queda ocorrida cinco dias antes da consulta.</p>
<p>No exame físico, a paciente estava hemodinamicamente estável, mas apresentava paresia braquial esquerda (0/5) e paresia femoral esquerda (3/5). Os exames laboratoriais mostraram hematócrito de 34,8%, leucocitose de 16.000/mm<sup>3</sup> com 56% de eosinófilos, plaquetas de 153.900/mm<sup>3</sup>, creatinina sérica de 1,12 mg/dL e nível de um peptídeo natriurético cerebral (ProBNP) superior a 35.000 pg/mL (faixa normal até 750 pg/mL em indivíduos com mais de 75 anos). A troponina de alta sensibilidade estava elevada em 322 pg/mL (percentil 99 &lt; 14 pg/mL). A radiografia de tórax mostrou um ligeiro aumento na relação cardiotorácica, com sinais leves de redistribuição do fluxo para os campos pulmonares superiores. O eletrocardiograma mostrou ritmo sinusal, desvio do eixo para a esquerda, complexo QRS estreito e má progressão da onda R nas derivações precordiais, sem anormalidades no segmento ST-T.</p>
<p>Com base nos achados do exame físico, foi realizada uma RM cerebral, que mostrou restrição de difusão em várias regiões corticais e subcorticais, incluindo os centros semiovais, córtex occipital bilateral, cerebelo bilateral e zonas de fronteira em ambos os hemisférios cerebrais (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f5">Figura 1</xref>). Esses achados foram consistentes com um acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico de provável origem embólica. Um ecocardiograma Doppler transtorácico subsequente revelou hipocinesia difusa com defeito anterosseptal e disfunção ventricular esquerda leve, além de regurgitação mitral leve a moderada. Notavelmente, houve espessamento difuso e irregular significativo do folheto coronariano direito da valva aórtica, associado a regurgitação severa, achados que não foram observados em estudos anteriores (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f6">Figura 2</xref>). As hemoculturas foram negativas.</p>
<fig id="f5">
<label>Figura 1</label>
<caption><title>RM nuclear: Múltiplas lesões hiperintensas cortico-subcorticais nas sequências T2 e FLAIR, com restrição à difusão, observadas em ambos os hemisférios cerebrais. Essas lesões estão distribuídas em territórios de infarto em zonas de fronteira ou bacias hidrográficas.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf01-pt.tif"/>
</fig>
<fig id="f6">
<label>Figura 2</label>
<caption><title>Esclerose e espessamento ao longo de toda a extensão do folheto coronariano direito da valva aórtica (indicados por setas). Observa-se melhora após o tratamento com glicocorticoides. Os painéis A e C mostram a condição antes do tratamento, enquanto os painéis B e D mostram a melhora após o início do tratamento.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf02-pt.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>Devido ao histórico da paciente de asma, rinossinusite crônica e neuropatia sensorial idiopática, juntamente com hipereosinofilia marcante, considerou-se o diagnóstico de granulomatose eosinofílica com poliangiite. Os níveis de anticorpos antinucleares foram negativos e infecções virais e parasitárias foram excluídas. Uma biópsia de medula óssea mostrou um aumento acentuado de eosinófilos com alterações displásicas, mas sem clonalidade.</p>
<p>Na presença de uma possível síndrome hipereosinofílica reumática, a paciente foi tratada empiricamente com glicocorticoides intravenosos, o que normalizou a contagem de eosinófilos em 24 horas (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f7">Figura 3</xref>). Um ecocardiograma Doppler transtorácico repetido 72 horas após o início do tratamento mostrou uma redução significativa no envolvimento da valva aórtica (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f6">Figura 2</xref>).</p>
<fig id="f7">
<label>Figura 3</label>
<caption><title>Tendência histórica da contagem de eosinófilos ao longo do tempo (em vermelho), com a faixa mais baixa indicada em azul e a faixa mais alta em verde. A figura destaca a hipereosinofilia com flutuações ao longo do histórico médico da paciente. A seta vermelha aponta para uma queda acentuada na contagem de eosinófilos após o tratamento com corticosteroides.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf03-pt.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>Uma avaliação adicional com RM cardíaca com contraste revelou realce tardio com gadolínio, com padrão subendocárdico predominantemente nos segmentos septais, sugerindo fibrose provavelmente relacionada à síndrome hipereosinofílica. No entanto, a possibilidade de lesão subendocárdica de outra causa não pôde ser completamente excluída. A função sistólica ventricular esquerda estava severamente comprometida, com fração de ejeção de 25% devido à hipocinesia global. As imagens ponderadas em T2 com supressão de gordura sugeriram um leve prolongamento dos tempos de relaxamento, mas isso não foi confirmado pelas técnicas de mapeamento (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f8">Figura 4</xref>). Devido à idade e fragilidade da paciente, não foram realizados angiografia coronariana e biópsia endomiocárdica.</p>
<fig id="f8">
<label>Figura 4</label>
<caption><title>RM nuclear: Comprometimento severo da função sistólica do ventrículo esquerdo (fração de ejeção do VE de 25%) devido à hipocinesia global. O painel 4A mostra o coração no final da diástole, e o painel 4B no final da sístole. As sequências de realce tardio com gadolínio (painel 4C) revelam realce subendocárdico nos segmentos septais basais e mediais, consistente com fibrose miocárdica, indicada pelas três setas vermelhas. A fibrose provavelmente está relacionada à hipereosinofilia, embora uma origem isquêmica não possa ser completamente descartada.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-37-03-e20240055-gf04-pt.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>A paciente apresentou melhora clínica e recebeu alta com prescrições de glicocorticoides orais e medicamentos antirremodelamento (inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina e betabloqueadores). Ela continua sendo acompanhada ambulatorialmente pelos serviços de cardiologia, neurologia e reumatologia, com bom progresso e sem recidivas.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="discussion">
<title>Discussão</title>
<p>Embora existam relatos na literatura sobre o envolvimento miocárdico e da valva mitral associados a essa síndrome hematológica, o envolvimento valvar geralmente resulta de alterações no remodelamento ventricular e subsequente tencionamento do folheto posterior da valva mitral. Neste caso, o envolvimento ocorreu na valva aórtica, e o espessamento e a restrição da mobilidade valvar foram reversíveis com o tratamento médico com corticosteroides. A resposta a esse tratamento empírico levantou a suspeita de um processo inflamatório-protrombótico ocorrendo na superfície endocárdica valvar. Embora não tenhamos confirmação patológica desse mecanismo, a resposta da contagem de eosinófilos ao tratamento e o momento da administração de corticosteroides apoiam um fenômeno de dose-resposta. Embora não possamos descartar a presença de trombose por outro mecanismo, acreditamos que esse diagnóstico diferencial deva ser considerado devido às implicações terapêuticas.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref></sup></p>
<p>Em relação ao evento cerebral agudo da paciente, os acidentes vasculares cerebrais em zonas de fronteira ou territórios de infarto em bacia hidrográfica são tipicamente de origem hemodinâmica, frequentemente após parada cardíaca. No entanto, a paciente não apresentou distúrbios hemodinâmicos que justificassem tal evento. Outras causas potenciais de acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico nesse contexto incluem embolia intracardíaca secundária à fibrose endomiocárdica ou endotelite tóxica causada pela liberação de citocinas derivadas dos eosinófilos.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref></sup></p>
<p>Embora o padrão de realce subendocárdico na imagem pudesse sugerir necrose isquêmica, a extensão da disfunção ventricular e a área limitada afetada por fibrose focal contradizem essa hipótese. Devido à fragilidade da paciente, a angiografia coronariana não foi realizada, deixando alguma incerteza.</p>
<p>A elevação significativa de biomarcadores como ProBNP e troponina de alta sensibilidade, juntamente com disfunção ventricular global, levantou a suspeita de miocardite eosinofílica. No entanto, esse diagnóstico não foi confirmado por biópsia endomiocárdica. Da mesma forma, as imagens ponderadas em T2 com supressão de gordura sugeriram um leve prolongamento dos tempos de relaxamento, embora as técnicas de mapeamento não tenham confirmado esse achado.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="conclusions">
<title>Conclusão</title>
<p>Este caso apresenta uma paciente com histórico de asma, rinossinusite crônica e neuropatia sensorial que desenvolveu hipereosinofilia e acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico em territórios de fronteira. Notavelmente, foi observado espessamento e disfunção da valva aórtica, uma manifestação incomum da miocardite hipereosinofílica. Os sintomas clínicos e achados de imagem melhoraram com o tratamento com glicocorticoides, sugerindo uma origem reumatológica para o envolvimento valvar e cerebrovascular nesta paciente.</p>
</sec>
</body>
<back>
<fn-group>
<fn fn-type="financial-disclosure" id="fn4"><label>Fontes de Financiamento</label><p>O presente estudo não teve fontes de financiamento externas.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn5"><label>Vinculação Acadêmica</label><p>Não há vinculação deste estudo a programas de pós-graduação.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn6"><label>Aprovação Ética e Consentimento Informado</label><p>Este artigo não contém estudos com humanos ou animais realizados por nenhum dos autores.</p></fn>
</fn-group>
</back>
</sub-article>
</article>
