ISSN:
1398-9995
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: A definite threshold of the peripheral blood eosinophile count that indicates the presence of hypereosinophilia-associated diseases has not yet been determined.Methods: The threshold eosinophile count at which cases of hypereosinophilia-associated diseases (n = 25) can be differentiated from those of bronchial asthma (n = 101) was determined. Then, the incidences of eosinophile counts greater than 1.0 × 109/l or the threshold level, were studied by analysis of 43 805 samples sent to the laboratory, and the diseases associated with the increased counts were determined.Results: The eosinophile count in cases of hypereosinophilia-associated diseases and in those of bronchial asthma were 10.967 ± 1.680 × 109/l and 0.574 ± 0.045 × 109/l, respectively (P 〈 0.001); the threshold was 2.052 × 109/l. The percentages of samples with an eosinophile count of more than 1.0 × 109/l and 2.052 × 109/l were 0.6% and 0.1%, respectively; the latter comprised of 41 samples from 24 patients including eight with hypereosinophilia-associated diseases. The patients with hypereosinophilia-associated diseases had a significantly higher count, and a higher incidence of counts of more than 2.052 × 109/l, than others, including patients with malignancies and symptoms conventionally referred as “atopic diseases”.Conclusion: Hypereosinophilia-associated diseases are associated with a very high eosinophile count of more than 2.052 × 109/l, which was observed rarely.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.2002.23479.x
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