Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2011 Dec;31(4):237-245.

Eosinophilia

Abstract

Blood eosinophilia can be induced by either the cytokine-mediated reactive phenomenon (secondary) or the integral phenotype of an underlying hematological neoplasm (primary). Secondary eosinophilia is usually associated with parasitosis in underdeveloped countries or allergic diseases in developed countries. Initial approaches should focus on excluding possible causes of secondary eosinophilia, including helminthic parasite infections, undiagnosed allergic diseases, varied types of adverse drug reactions, and other eosinophil- associated syndromes, such as eosinophilic gastroenteritis and eosinophilic lung diseases. If secondary eosinophilia is excluded, attention must be directed to considerations of varied other forms of primary eosinophilia. Primary eosinophilia can be classified as clonal or idiopathic depending on the presence or absence of molecular, cytogenetic or histological evidence for myeloid malignancy. This article presents a comprehensive review of both secondary and primary eosinophilic disorders with some author's clinical experience with hypereosinophilia.

MeSH Terms

Cytogenetics
Developed Countries
Drug Toxicity
Enteritis
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Helminths
Hematologic Neoplasms
Lung Diseases
Parasites
Phenotype
Enteritis
Eosinophilia
Gastritis