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Eosinophilic Leukemia – Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Eosinophilic Leukemia?

Eosinophils are a kind of leukocyte, or white blood cell. They usually help with responding to infections, especially those involving parasites, and also play a vital role in allergic reactions. Studies show that Eosinophils typically only make up less than 5 of all white blood cells.

Eosinophilic leukemia is described as a cancer of the blood that involves a high number of eosinophils in the blood, bone marrow, and other tissues. When levels of eosinophils are abnormally elevated, it’s called eosinophilia. A normal level of eosinophils is evaluated in a complete blood count as 350 to 500 cells per cubic millimeter (mm3). An individual is diagnosed with eosinophilia when a complete blood count finds that eosinophil levels are higher than 500 mm3.

In addition to the general effects of leukemia, having elevated levels of eosinophils can also have negative effects on your health. This is because eosinophils can produce chemicals that harm various organs and tissues.