Low neutropenia

One type of white blood cell is the alkaliphilic granulocyte. In fact, the cause of low alkaliphilic granulocyte count is very simple, it is nothing more than typhoid fever. Another situation is that under stressful conditions such as major surgery or burns, the alkaliphilic granulocyte level will be significantly low. Another possibility is that when people take cortical hormones for a long time, their alkaliphilic granulocytes may be lower than normal. So let’s take a look at what causes low eosinophil levels!

1. Cell Source

Alkaliphilic granulocytes originate from hematopoietic pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream after differentiation and maturation in the bone marrow. The origin of mast cells is still controversial, and the origin of human mast cells and the relationship between mast cells and alkaliphils remain unclear. It is known that α-rat mast cells originate from hematopoietic pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow and mature in the microenvironment of various tissues to form connective tissue mast cells and mucosal mast cells. Connective tissue mast cells are larger in size, have more cytoplasmic granules, higher histamine content, and are more sensitive to drugs.

2. Reference Value

Normal reference value

Percentage 0～0.01 or (0%—1%)

Absolute value 0～0.1 10^9/L

3. Abnormal Analysis

1. Increased alkaliphilic granulocytes:

Alkaliphilic leukemia (rare) and chronic myeloid leukemia are often accompanied by an increase in alkaliphilic granulocytes. An increase in alkaliphilic granulocytes can also be seen in myelofibrosis, chronic hemolysis, and after splenectomy.

2. Alkaliphilic granulocytopenia:

① Type I hypersensitivity reaction (rapid allergic reaction), such as urticaria, anaphylactic shock, etc.; excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone and glucocorticoid; hyperthyroidism; Cushing's disease, etc.;

② Stress response, such as myocardial infarction, severe infection, bleeding, etc.

3. Clinical significance

(1) Increase: The absolute value of peripheral blood alkaliphils exceeds the upper reference limit (>0.05×109/L).

1) Allergic or inflammatory diseases: such as urticaria and ulcerative colitis. Urticaria is caused by allergic constitution to specific antigens or physical factors (such as cold), which leads to increased serum IgE. Cryoglobulins or cold fibrinogen may also appear in the serum of patients with cold urticaria. Ulcerative colitis may be accompanied by a decrease in RBC, iron deficiency anemia, and an increase in WBC, neutrophils, and eosinophils in the acute phase.

2) Myeloproliferative diseases: such as polycythemia vera, primary myelofibrosis, and chronic myeloid leukemia. A persistent alkaliphilic granulocyte count > 0.1 × 10 9/L is a common feature of myeloproliferative diseases. Polycythemia vera, slightly increased alkaliphilic granulocytes (1×10 9/L). Primary fibrosis, anemia, the presence of immature red blood cells, immature granulocytes, increased WBC, mainly neutrophils, slightly increased alkaliphils and eosinophils. In chronic myeloid leukemia, mild anemia, increased WBC count, eosinophilia, and alkaliphilia may reach 2% to 3%, while those as high as 20% to 90% indicate a poor prognosis.

3) Alkaliphilic leukemia: A rare type of leukemia in which the number of alkaliphils increases abnormally, reaching more than 20%, and most of them are immature.

(2) Decreased: seen in hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, glucocorticoid treatment, and acute infection.