Basophilia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What Is Basophilia?

Basophilia is also known as a basophilic disorder. It is a condition where the body produces an increased number of basophils. Basophils are white blood cells that protect the body against infections caused by viruses, parasites, fungi, and even during cancer. Basophils are also present in the body to fight against allergens. If the basophil count is elevated unusually, the condition is called basophilia. Basophilia may be a clinical sign usually suggestive of an infection. It may also suggest a sign of underlying medical pathologies like leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells) or an autoimmune disorder.

What Are the Causes of Basophilia?

Basophilia occurs when the body has an increased number of basophils. The basophil count can be increased due to various reasons. Sometimes, the symptoms of basophilia signify that the body is defending against a serious medical pathology such as hyperthyroidism or cancer. Other times, these symptoms indicate the body is fighting a persistent infection or fighting against an allergen.

Certain medical conditions are associated with basophilia, including:

• Chronic myeloid leukemia (blood cancer of adults).

• Primary myelofibrosis (a rare form of chronic leukemia).

• Thrombocythemia (a disease where the bone marrow produces an increased number of blood platelets).

• Myelodysplastic syndrome (a condition where the production of blood cells is disrupted).

• Inflammatory bowel disease (an inflammatory disorder of the whole or part of the digestive tract).

• Ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory disorder characterized by sores and ulcers in the digestive tract).

• Rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory disease of the joints).

• Certain food allergies to milk, dairy, peanuts, fish, etc.

• Drug allergies (allergy to certain medicines).

• Hay fever (characterized by cold-like symptoms including itchy eyes, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and congestion).

• Chickenpox (a contagious viral infection causing a rash on the skin).

• Tuberculosis (a bacterial infection affecting the lungs).

What Are the Symptoms of Basophilia?

The symptoms of basophilia resemble many other medical conditions. The symptoms may include:

• High fever.

• Weakness.

• Tiredness.

• Severe headache.

• Recurrent infections.

• Severe itching and pruritus.

• Rashes on the skin.

• Arthritis (swollen and painful joints).

• Dizziness.

• Easy bleeding.

• Breathlessness.

• Bone pain.

• Abdominal pain.

• Blurred vision.

• Sudden weight loss.

• Numbness in the fingers.

How Is Basophilia Diagnosed?

The healthcare professional might discover the high basophil count while performing a routine complete blood count (CBC) for another cause. After an abnormal complete blood count, the physician might suggest a blood smear. A drop of the patient’s blood is taken on a slide and spread to examine for abnormal red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets.

The various tests to identify the causes of basophilia include:

• Blood Tests- The healthcare professional usually advises these tests to look for abnormal counts of red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets. Blood tests can also be done to check for inflammation or to evaluate abnormal levels of proteins and other substances in the blood. Allergies can also be checked by the blood test.

• Bone Marrow Biopsy- The doctor removes a bone marrow sample from the hipbone. This bone marrow sample is then sent to a laboratory and tested in a lab to identify if the bone marrow is producing healthy blood cells.

• Genetic Tests- These tests check for gene mutations that may cause diseases like polycythemia vera (when increased red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow) and chronic myeloid leukemia.

• Ultrasound- This test makes use of sound waves to scan pictures of the body organs. It is usually done to check whether the spleen is enlarged. Usually, an enlarged spleen can also be seen in a few cancer patients and infectious diseases.

What Is the Treatment and Management of Basophilia?

Basophilia is not treated directly, but the condition may improve once the underlying medical condition that caused it is managed and treated.

The various myeloproliferative disorders are treated with the following:

• Chemotherapy- The medications used for this treatment modality usually destroy the extra blood cells present in the body.

• Radiation Therapy- High-energy X-rays are used in this treatment to kill the extra blood cells in the body.

• Surgery- The doctor may surgically remove the spleen if it is enlarged. This surgical operation is known as splenectomy.

• Stem Cell Transplantation- In this procedure, the stem cells are replaced in the bone marrow so that the bone marrow can synthesize healthy new blood cells.

Certain diseases like ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis are generally treated with drugs that help lower inflammation by suppressing the immune system.

People suffering from certain food and drug allergies should avoid triggers such as milk, dairy, peanuts, pollen, dust, pet dander, etc. The patient can be given allergy shots to desensitize them to certain types of allergens, like weeds (plants present in the wrong place), mold (fungal growth), dust, and insect stings. Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics.

What Are the Complications of Basophilia?

Basophilia does not cause complications on its own, but the underlying medical conditions can cause these complications, including:

• Enlarged spleen.

• Severe infections.

• Pain.

• Defective blood clotting.

• Severe bleeding.

• Increased susceptibility to cancers.

Conclusion

Basophils are a type of white blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow. A normal range varies from zero to three basophils in every microliter of blood. A higher-than-normal basophil level is called basophilia. It can be a sign of chronic infection in the body or suggest some serious blood disorder or cancer. The doctor may identify the condition by doing certain blood tests.