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The causes of increase and decrease in eosinophils
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021
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Eosinophilia - an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood (more than 0.4 × 10 9 / L in adults and 0.7 × 10 9 / L in children). In some conditions (fibroplastic parietal endocarditis of Lefler, nodular polyarteritis, lymphogranulomatosis), hypereosinophilic leukemoid reactions with eosinophilic hyperplasia of red bone marrow and infiltration of eosinophils of tissues are possible. Parasitic infestations and atopic diseases are most often accompanied by eosinophilia.
Invasion with helminth parasites is the cause of prolonged eosinophilia; less often eosinophilia is caused by protozoa. When infecting with intestinal parasites, eosinophilia is rarely pronounced. Nevertheless, an increase in the content of eosinophils to 10-30% and even up to 69% is possible with strongyloidiasis. In allergic conditions, eosinophilia is usually moderate - from 0.2 to 1.5 × 10 9 / L, but in some cases may be higher, for example, with bronchial asthma or angioedema. Expressed and stable eosinophilia (from 10 to 60%) is observed with pemphigus and dermatitis herpetiform dermatitis. In addition, eosinophilia accompanies nodular polyarteritis (in 18% of patients the content of eosinophils reaches 84%), rheumatoid arthritis complicated by vasculitis and pleurisy. Also there is a hypereosinophilic syndrome, in which the leukocytosis reaches 138 × 10 9 / l, while eosinophils account for 93%.
The main causes leading to eosinophilia.
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Major diseases and conditions accompanied by eosinophilia and causes |
Clinical forms |
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Allergic diseases Invasions of parasites Tumors Diseases of connective tissue |
Bronchial asthma, hay fever, allergic dermatitis, drug allergy Ascaridosis, toxocarosis, trichinosis, echinococcosis, schistosomiasis, filariasis, strongyloidiasis, opisthorchiasis, ankylostomiasis, giardiasis Hemoblastosis (acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, erythremia, lymphomas, lymphogranulomatosis), other tumors, especially with metastases or with necrosis Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Nodular polyarteritis, rheumatoid arthritis |
Eosinopenia - a decrease in the content of eosinophils (less than 0.05 × 10 9 / l) - in most cases is due to an increase in adrenocorticoid activity, which leads to a delay in eosinophils in the bone marrow. Eosinopenia is especially characteristic for the initial phase of the infectious-toxic process. A decrease in the number of eosinophils in the postoperative period indicates a severe condition of the patient.