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Issue 1 - 2026
The role of eosinophils in the diagnosis of allergic diseases
Abstract
Eosinophilic granulocytes are hematopoietic effector cells involved in allergy, infection, chronic inflammation, and some malignancies. Produced in bone marrow, they circulate in blood before migrating to tissues where they release mediators that regulate immune responses and promote inflammation and remodeling. Normally representing about 1% of peripheral leukocytes, eosinophils reflect the balance between bone marrow production, tissue recruitment, and apoptosis. Elevated counts in blood or tissues are associated with diverse conditions. In allergic diseases, eosinophils are key biomarkers. In asthma, blood and airway eosinophilia characterize T2 inflammation, guide therapy, and predict exacerbations, although correlations between blood and tissue levels vary. Eosinophilia is also relevant in chronic rhinosinusitis, food allergies, and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs), where tissue-based criteria are essential for diagnosis, especially in eosinophilic esophagitis. In atopic dermatitis, eosinophils correlate with severity, while in urticaria and drug reactions their significance is variable. Drug-induced eosinophilia ranges from benign to severe systemic conditions such as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Overall, eosinophilia is a frequent but nonspecific finding, serving as a marker of atopy, disease severity, or treatment response. Tissue eosinophilia, however, is indispensable for diagnosing specific disorders, notably EGIDs and hypereosinophilic syndromes
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