What Level of Eosinophils Indicates Cancer? What High Levels Mean (2024)

Eosinophils are white blood cells that play an essential role in the immune system, specifically in fighting diseases and infections. A high eosinophil level, for example, can indicate a range of several health conditions, from allergic reactions and asthma to certain cancers.

These cells also contribute to the body's immune response during allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The immune system releases eosinophils when the body detects harmful pathogens—such as parasites, viruses, or bacteria—and allergens. Eosinophils migrate to the affected area to destroy the invading cells.

Whether your level of eosinophils is high or low, the count can give healthcare providers better insight into your immune system responses. Here's what you need to know.

What Level of Eosinophils Indicates Cancer? What High Levels Mean (1)

Understanding MCHC Blood Test Results

Eosinophils are specialized white blood cells that serve several important immune functions to help keep you healthy. These cells travel to the body part where an infectious agent is detected. They release toxic chemicals and proteins that can attack and kill harmful cells or germs to prevent illness.

How Are They Helpful?

Eosinophils are also involved in helping fight allergic reactions. The immune system perceives an allergen as a threat and triggers an allergic response. Eosinophils are central to this response and promote inflammation. Inflammation helps isolate and control the site of the allergic reaction and can cause itching, sneezing, and a runny nose.

Research has shown that eosinophils play a role in healing wounds. Scientists are still exploring how eosinophils promote healing.

Some experts believe that eosinophils:

  • Assist in forming scars
  • Contribute to creating new tissues
  • Stimulate the growth of new blood vessels

How To Measure Eosinophils

An eosinophil count is part of a complete blood count (CBC).A CBC measures the different components in your blood, including eosinophils, red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets.

A healthcare provider will take a small blood sample and send it in for analysis. To collect your blood sample, they will:

  • Look for a vein to collect blood from, usually on the inside of your elbow.
  • Clean the area with an antiseptic and tie an elastic band around your arm to make it easier to collect the blood sample.
  • Gently insert the needle into your arm and collect the blood in a tube (vial).
  • Remove the needle and place a bandage on your arm to prevent bleeding.

A trained lab technician will then prepare a blood smear by spreading a thin layer of your blood on a glass slide. They will examine the slide under a microscope to identify and count your eosinophils. These cells look like small, orange-colored particles or spots.

A lab technician can determine your eosinophil count by multiplying the percentage of eosinophils per 100 cells by the total white blood cell count in your body. The absolute eosinophil count represents the actual number of eosinophils per microliter (µL) of blood.

An eosinophil count is the number of eosinophils in your blood. Your count can provide valuable information about your health and help diagnose or monitor certain health conditions that you might have.

The normal range of eosinophils is less than 500 eosinophil cells per µL of blood, or less than 5% of the total white blood cell count. Your immune system is generally functioning normally if your eosinophil count falls within the normal range. There are also no apparent signs of eosinophil-related conditions with this result.

Interpreting your eosinophil count can be complex. Talk to a healthcare provider about your results. They can answer your questions, discuss your results, and offer recommendations and guidance on the next steps if your results are outside the normal range.

Low Eosinophil Count

You may have a condition called "eosinopenia" if your levels are low. Certain health conditions and medications can cause low eosinophil counts, including:

  • Acute bacterial infections
  • Excess alcohol intake
  • Excess production of cortisol (a stress hormone)
  • Steroid use

A low eosinophil count may have an unknown cause. A healthcare provider may order additional tests to learn why your counts are low and provide you with an accurate diagnosis. You might sometimes also require treatments to raise your count to a healthy range.

High Eosinophil Count

You may have a condition called "eosinophilia" if your levels are high. There are three categories of eosinophilia:

CategoryCount
Mild500 to 1,000 eosinophils per µL of blood
Moderate1,000 to 5,000 eosinophils per µL of blood
SevereMore than 5,000 eosinophils per µL of blood

Many conditions can cause eosinophilia, including:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Asthma
  • Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Certain cancers (e.g., leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma)
  • Drug reactions
  • Esophagitis
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Parasitic infections

It's important to note that eosinophilia does not cause symptoms on its own. Any symptoms will likely be a result of the infection or condition causing your high eosinophil count. It's still important to treat eosinophilia. A high eosinophil count can damage any vital organ, including the heart, lungs, skin, intestines, and stomach if left untreated.

How To Treat Eosinophilia

Treatment will focus on managing the specific condition causing eosinophilia. This may include medications, lifestyle changes (e.g., avoiding certain foods), or using an inhaler. A healthcare provider may recommend general treatments to lower your count and prevent complications from occurring for unknown causes.

This usually includes using drugs for treatment, which may include:

Drug ClassBrand NameGeneric Name
Chemotherapy drugsLeukeranChlorambucil
GlucocorticosteroidsRayosPrednisone
ImmunomodulatorsIntron-AInterferon-alpha
Monoclonal antibodiesNucalaMepolizumab
Tyrosine kinase inhibitorsGleevecImatinib

What Is a Chloride Blood Test?

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell involved in the body's immune response. An eosinophil count blood test measures the number of eosinophils circulating in your bloodstream and provides important information about your health.

High eosinophil levels (eosinophilia) can occur due to various conditions, like allergies or certain cancers. Low eosinophil levels (eosinopenia) may indicate conditions like an acute bacterial infection or hormonal balance. Talk to a healthcare provider about your results to learn the causes and receive a treatment plan.

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16 Sources

Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. MedlinePlus. Eosinophilic disorders.

  2. Ramirez GA, Yacoub MR, Ripa M, et al. Eosinophils from physiology to disease: A comprehensive review. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:9095275. doi:10.1155/2018/9095275

  3. Wen T, Rothenberg ME. The regulatory function of eosinophils. Microbiol Spectr. 2016;4(5).doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0020-2015

  4. Small P, Keith PK, Kim H. Allergic rhinitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):51. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0280-7

  5. Coden ME, Berdnikovs S. Eosinophils in wound healing and epithelial remodeling: Is coagulation a missing link? J Leukoc Biol. 2020;108(1):93-103. doi:10.1002/JLB.3MR0120-390R

  6. MedlinePlus. CBC blood test.

  7. MedlinePlus. Eosinophil count - absolute.

  8. Klion AD, Ackerman SJ, Bochner BS. Contributions of eosinophils to human health and disease. Annu Rev Pathol. 2020;15:179-209. doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-012419-032756

  9. Wechsler ME, Munitz A, Ackerman SJ, et al. Eosinophils in health and disease: A state-of-the-art review. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021;96(10):2694-2707. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.04.025

  10. Choi J, Oh JY, Lee YS, et al. The association between blood eosinophil percent and bacterial infection in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2019;14:953-959. doi:10.2147/COPD.S197361

  11. Raka J, Aishwariya Brigit G, Shubham N. Haematological changes in alcohol and substance use disorders- an overview.Int Arch Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2020;2(1). doi:10.23937/2690-263x/1710006

  12. Lee Y, Yi HS, Kim HR, et al. The eosinophil count tends to be negatively associated with levels of serum glucose in patients with adrenal Cushing syndrome. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2017;32(3):353-359. doi:10.3803/EnM.2017.32.3.353

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What Level of Eosinophils Indicates Cancer? What High Levels Mean (2024)

FAQs

What Level of Eosinophils Indicates Cancer? What High Levels Mean? ›

There's no distinct eosinophil level that indicates cancer. There's a normal range of eosinophils (0 to 500 cell per microliter). If your levels fall outside the range, your doctor will investigate further to determine the cause. Remember, “allergic reactions are the most common reason for eosinophilia,” Dr.

What is a high eosinophil count in blood test for cancer? ›

High levels of eosinophils, or eosinophilia, can indicate many things, including parasitic diseases, fungal infections, autoimmune disorders, and allergies. It can also be a sign of cancer. This includes blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and solid tumor cancers like colorectal cancer and lung cancer.

What is an alarming level of eosinophils? ›

Sustained and significant eosinophilia in the 1500 cells/µL or above range, without clear cause, should prompt evaluation. Processes known to cause modest eosinophilia include allergic disease, parasitic disease, drug allergy, and mastocytosis.

What is considered an extremely high eosinophil count? ›

Over 500 eosinophils per microliter of blood is thought to be eosinophilia in adults. Over 1,500 is thought to be hypereosinophilia if the count remains high for many months.

Is 7.7 eosinophils high? ›

Eosinophils make up 0.0 to 6.0 percent of your blood. The absolute count is the percentage of eosinophils multiplied by your white blood cell count. The count may range a bit between different laboratories, but a normal range is usually between 30 and 350.

What blood test results indicate cancer? ›

Tumor marker blood tests.

These tests identify certain chemicals released into your bloodstream every day. High levels of these chemicals in the blood can be a sign of cancer.

Are eosinophils Tumour markers? ›

Eosinophils are components of the immune microenvironment that modulates tumor initiation and progression. Although canonically associated with a detrimental role in allergic disorders, these cells can induce a protective immune response against helminthes, viral and bacterial pathogens.

What level of eosinophils indicate leukemia? ›

There's no distinct eosinophil level that indicates cancer. There's a normal range of eosinophils (0 to 500 cell per microliter). If your levels fall outside the range, your doctor will investigate further to determine the cause. Remember, “allergic reactions are the most common reason for eosinophilia,” Dr.

What is the critical value for eosinophils? ›

The eosinophilia cutoff value is described as >500 cells/μl, and 500–1,500 cells is considered mild, 1,500–5,000 moderate, and more than 5,000 severe eosinophilia. In addition, >1,500 cells/μl is accepted as eosinophilia with the potential for tissue infiltration and called hypereosinophilia (2).

What is a good reading for eosinophils? ›

Normal eosinophil count is less than 500 cells per microliter (cells/mcL). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

Can high eosinophils make you tired? ›

Common symptoms include muscle pain (myalgia), muscle weakness, cramping, skin rashes, difficulty breathing (dyspnea) and fatigue. Affected individuals have elevated levels of certain white blood cells known as eosinophils in the various tissues of the body, a condition known as eosinophilia.

Can you live with high eosinophils? ›

This eosinophil overload can damage your organs, including your heart, lungs, skin and nervous system. Left untreated, hypereosinophilic syndrome can be life-threatening.

What not to eat when eosinophils are high? ›

Excluding certain foods from the diet has been a cornerstone of EoE treatment. During the early 2000s, researchers found that eliminating six common food triggers of esophageal injury—milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish and nuts—substantially reduced signs and symptoms of EoE.

What is the danger range for eosinophils? ›

Mild: Cell count between 500 and 1,500 eosinophils per microliter of blood. Moderate: Cell count between 1,500 and 5,000 eosinophils per microliter of blood. Severe: Cell count greater than 5,000 eosinophils per microliter of blood.

What happens if eosinophil count is 8? ›

An increased number of eosinophils may mean your body is fighting an infection or allergic reaction. Very high numbers may indicate a serious health condition.

What autoimmune diseases cause high eosinophils? ›

Infections, especially from parasites, can also lead to eosinophilia. Problems with immune regulation can also cause eosinophilia, including autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune myocarditis, vasculitis and sarcoidosis.

What is blood cancer with eosinophilia? ›

Chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL) is a blood cancer that causes an excess of eosinophils in the body. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that help ward off infection, but having too many can be harmful. CEL is rare , but researchers currently do not know its true incidence in the United States.

Is 0.5 EOS absolute high? ›

A normal eosinophil count is 0.02-0.5 x 109/L.

What level of neutrophils indicate cancer? ›

A high neutrophil count means that you have more than 7,700 neutrophils per microliter in your blood. The normal range is 2,500-7,000. A high neutrophil count may be caused by infection, inflammation, some types of cancer, or certain medications.

What level of monocytes indicate cancer? ›

What level of monocytes indicates leukemia? People with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) typically have monocyte counts of at least (at least 1,000 per mm3). They may also have lower numbers of other white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

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