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Reactive eosinophilia and thrombosis

Reactive eosinophilia and thrombosis
#00014086
Author: Javier Munoz and Amr Hanbali
Category: Laboratory Hematology > Basic cell morphology > Morphologic variants of white blood cells > Myeloid leukocytosis
Published Date: 10/05/2012

A 76-year-old female with chronic renal disease and dementia was admitted for acute chest pain. Physical examination showed no skin rash or wheezing. A CT scan for pulmonary embolism was positive and anticoagulation was started. Her blood tests showed white blood cells of 21.9 × 109/L, hemoglobin 10.2 g/dL, and platelets 308 × 109/L. The peripheral blood smear showed marked eosinophilia at 60% (see figure) and the red cells and platelets were normal. A bone marrow evaluation demonstrated 31% mature eosinophils without marrow dyspoietic changes. The FIP1L1-PDGFR fusion gene mutation was not present and the chromosomes showed a normal female karyotype. Two years later she was readmitted for worsening dementia and kidney failure. At that time laboratory testing showed normal white blood cells and no evidence of eosinophilia. The presence of eosinophilia raises a number of clinical etiologic possibilities, including connective tissue disease, allergies, recent travel, parasitic infections,