Eosinopenia

Description

Eosinopaenia refers to a reduction in the normal number of circulating blood eosinophils. It ocurs most commonly as part of a stress leucocgram and in other situations that result in an increase in the circulating concentration of glucocorticoids:

• Stress leucogram, with which neutrophilia, monocytosis and lymphopaenia would also be expected.
• Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) results in a similar pattern due to an increase in endogenous glucocorticoids.
• Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism caused by the administration of corticosteroids, even with the use of topical otic or ophthalmic preparations.

Corticosteroids are thought to exert a depressive effect on lymphocytes that usually stimulate eosinophil production.