Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia: precursor lesions and relevance of histology. A case report.

A 59-year-old patient suffered from persistent angioedema-like swellings and blood eosinophilia. The disease was preceded by an erythema multiforme-like exanthema and urticarial papules. Persistent eosinophilia with exclusion of its known causes and skin biopsy helped to establish the diagnosis of the benign variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome known as 'episodic angioedema with eosinophilia'. Corticosteroid therapy was successful. The therapeutic alternatives are discussed.