The reasons why basophils can be raised in an adult

Basophils are very large granulocytes that form in the bone marrow, and then enter the blood. In the blood, basophils circulate for only a few hours. Then they penetrate into the tissues, where their life span is about 8-12 days.

Basophils are the smallest group of leukocytes. Therefore, if basophils are increased in an adult, this often indicates the occurrence of any disease in the body. In order to correctly determine what caused the increase in the number of basophils in the blood, it should be borne in mind that they perform many important functions in the body. For example, basophils support blood flow in small vessels, provide a migration pathway for other leukocytes, and also have an effective effect on the growth of new capillaries. At the same time, they take part in allergic and cellular inflammatory reactions. The mechanism of action is the following: basophils, when they enter the tissues, turn into mast cells containing histamine, which, in turn, being an active biological substance, stimulates the manifestation of allergy. That is, when the basophil meets the allergen, its degranulation takes place: the granules that are inside are destroyed, resulting in biological active components entering the bloodstream. It is thanks to the basophils that the poison, trapped in the body by the bite of an insect, is immediately blocked in the tissues and does not spread further along the body. In addition, the composition of basophils includes an element such as heparin. With its help, regulation of blood clotting is carried out.

Basophils are capable of phagocytosis and chemotaxis, but they have almost no value in the immune system of the body. This fact is explained by their small content. So the amount of basophils contained in the body of an adult should be 0.5-1% of all leukocytes. If the basophils are higher than normal, then this condition is called basophilia. In clinical practice, it is very rare. Among the reasons why basophils can be raised in an adult, the following pathological conditions and diseases can be distinguished:

• Ulcerative colitis, inflammatory chronic diseases of the intestinal tract;
• Chronic sinusitis;
• Blood diseases: lyfogranulemotoz, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute leukemia, true polycythemia;
• Myxedema;
• Hodgkin's disease;
• Hemolytic anemia;
• Allergic reactions;
• diabetes;
• lungs' cancer;
• Lack of vitamin B12 in the body;
• Smallpox;
• Taking antithyroid drugs and estrogens.

It is interesting to know that there can be not only basophils raised in an adult, but also lowered. Reduction of basophils in the blood is called basepenia. It has no diagnostic significance, it can be provoked by:

• Various acute infections;
• stress;
• Hyperthyroidism;
• Cushing's disease;
• Use of corticosteroids.

Women need to know that basophils in the blood can be raised or lowered during the period of ovulation, at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, and during pregnancy. If these factors are the reason for the increased or decreased content of basophils, then there is no cause for concern, they will then themselves recover to the required level.

If basophils are increased in an adult due to the use of any medications, then their administration should be stopped immediately. If the reason is a deficiency of vitamin B12, then it is necessary to make up for its deficiency. You can do this by eating foods such as meat, eggs, liver, milk, cheese. If the cause lies in other diseases, then it is necessary that the doctor prescribes treatment. When the disease passes, the basophils become normal.