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Incidence of peripheral blood eosinophilia and the threshold eosinophile count for indicating hypereosinophilia‐associated diseases
Author(s) -
Kobayashi S.,
Inokuma S.,
Setoguchi K.,
Kono H.,
Abe K.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2002.23479.x
Subject(s) - hypereosinophilia , medicine , eosinophilia , incidence (geometry) , gastroenterology , eosinophil , asthma , atopic dermatitis , immunology , physics , optics
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 × 10 9 /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 × 10 9 /l and 0.574 ± 0.045 × 10 9 /l, respectively ( P < 0.001); the threshold was 2.052 × 10 9 /l. The percentages of samples with an eosinophile count of more than 1.0 × 10 9 /l and 2.052 × 10 9 /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 × 10 9 /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 × 10 9 /l, which was observed rarely.