Although basophilia is not a disease in itself, it can be an important marker for other underlying medical problems. In healthy individuals, basophils represent a minimal amount of the body’s cell population. However, people with basophilia have an abnormally high number.
Basophils are a type of white blood cell (which helps the body fight infection) produced in the bone marrow. However, when a person has basophilia, the increase in white blood cells can be due to a serious cause.
Basophilia rarely exists independently and more often indicates the presence of another condition.
Causes and risk factors in basophilia
The most common causes of basophilia include: infections, allergies, disorders and diseases characterized by chronic inflammation or myeloproliferative disorders (diseases of the blood and bone marrow).
Infections
Infections often trigger an inflammatory response in the body, which can make a person more likely to develop basophilia. However, the development of basophilia as a result of an infection or acute illness is rare . Certain diseases, such as chickenpox and tuberculosis, can tip the balance towards basophilia.
Allergies
Allergies and allergic reactions to foods and drugs can cause basophilia. The severity of the allergy or response may be associated with the severity of the basophilia.
Chronic inflamation
Many disorders and diseases are directly related to chronic inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis …). A person with a condition characterized by inflammation may be more likely to develop basophilia.
Myeloproliferative disorders
Myeloproliferative disorders cause the bone marrow to overproduce different types of blood cells, including basophils. These disorders can be: essential thrombocythemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, primary myelofibrosis, systemic mastocytosis or hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Symptoms
Symptoms of basophilia vary but can include fatigue, abdominal pain, cramps, unexplained weight loss, fever, malaise … However, the symptoms that a person with basophilia experiences vary depending on their underlying medical condition.
Treatment
Basophilia is unlikely to be directly treated. Instead, treatment can be focused on the underlying medical condition of the patient in question. Thus, for example, bacterial infections that cause basophilia will require antibiotics.
Treatment of inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, periorbital cellulitis, interstitial cystitis, Behcet’s syndrome, cerebritis, or chorioretinitis, may include immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications.
Treatment for a myeloproliferative disorder is likely to be complex and will vary depending on an individual’s situation, but could include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplantation, or surgery to remove the spleen.
The prognosis for people or patients with basophilia varies depending on the underlying cause. Mild infections should clear up with rest and treatment. Inflammatory diseases and allergies are often lifelong conditions that can be controlled with medications and, of course, lifestyle changes.
