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Eosinophilic disease

Authoring team

Eosinophilia is defined as an increase of circulating eosinophils >500 /mm3. Based on the counts, eosinophilia can be divided into different categories: mild (500 to 1500/mm3), moderate (1500 to 5000/mm3), and severe (> 5000/mm3). Hypereosinophilic syndrome is defined as an absolute eosinophil count greater than 1500/mm3 on two occasions at least one month apart or marked tissue eosinophilia.

Eosinophilia can be primary or secondary;

Primary causes

  • Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia
  • Myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms with rearrangements of PDGFRA, PDGFRAB, or FGFR1 genes
  • Hereditary eosinophilia
  • Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

Secondary causes:

  • Parasitic infestations: ancylostomiasis, ascariasis, cysticercosis, echinococcosis (hydatid cyst), schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, trichinellosis, visceral larva migrans (toxocariasis)
  • Fungal and bacterial infections: bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, chronic tuberculosis (occasionally), coccidioidomycosis, disseminated histoplasmosis, scarlet fever
  • Allergic disorders: bronchial asthma, hay fever, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, drug, and food allergic reactions, DRESS syndrome
  • Skin diseases: Atopic dermatitis, eczema, pemphigus, Mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome
  • Graft versus host reaction
  • Connective tissue disease: Churg-Strauss syndrome, eosinophilic myalgia syndrome
  • Miscellaneous: reactive pulmonary eosinophilia, tropical eosinophilia, pancreatitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Reference

  1. Klion AD. Eosinophilia: a pragmatic approach to diagnosis and treatment. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2015;2015:92-7

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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