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High eosinophil count from UC?

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Posted 5/26/2010 1:25 AM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone.  I was just wondering if anyone here developed a very high eosinophil count during the course of their UC?  For those that don't know or need refresher, eosinophil cells are a type of white blood cell that are usually in low numbers during a normal CBC.  The normal levels for a wbc are between 11 and 4 thousand with eosinophils usually being less than 600.  My wbc went as high as 40k and my eosionophil count went as high as 30k.  My colonscopies showed eosinophils infiltrating my colonic tissue.  Since being on Imuran things have normalized.  I was just wondering if anyone experience this type of phenomenon.  I was told it's rare with UC but it has been documented.  Let me know if any of you guys have experienced anything like this.  Thanks

MyUC

Posted 5/26/2010 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Google Churg-Strauss if you haven't heard of it. I thought I might have it but my eosinophils were normal. Interesting to know what you find out.
Posted 5/26/2010 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I am know a lot about Churg Strauss.  It does usually pertain to very high counts of eosinophils but the difference it that it usally involves the lungs and people have breathing problems.  I had a CAT scan of my body from pelvis to neck and all was normal.  I also had pulmunary lung testing done, all good on that front as well.  Again to repeat myself, once on the Imuran my UC went from pan colitis to very little if any.  The eos are just about normal as well.  Last count they were below 1k as compared to 30k.  But thanks for the help anyways. 

I am more interested in knowing if anyone with just plain UC has experienced a high eos count?  Don't forget a high eos count has to do with allergies, parasites (both of which I was negative for) and developing tumors or cancers of unknown etiology.

MyUC

Posted 5/26/2010 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, everytime I have brought up the high eosinophil count associated with UC I never really get any replies.  I guess no one here really can relate and I guess what they told me is true.  That high eos count with UC can happen but it's rare.  I feel so alone in this particular aspect when it comes to my UC.

MyUC

Posted 5/26/2010 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, sorry - can't help you with this one because for one, personally I don't think this has ever happened to me. I have, however, had a larger count of - I don't know what it's called but it starts with an M and it indicates that I have larger then normal red blood cells. Second, I am not even sure what this means....many of us may not know which is why you have a lack of responses.

What does it indicate to have a high eosinophil count?
Posted 5/26/2010 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
MyUC,
My daughter had high eosinophiles at diagnosis. Her GI ignored it. The Gi that gave her her second opinion suggested it might indicate an allergic component to her UC and asked us to eliminate dairy, soy, and eggs from her diet. The third GI (her current one) said it was normal for people with UC to have higher eosinophiles in their blood work and also ignored it. So, I don't know. We did eliminate dairy and soy from her diet for a long time but she has continued to flare, though I am now of the belief that there is a functional (IBS) aspect to her UC which aggravates her colon and causes a flare.
Sorry, can't be of more help. I wish I knew myself. It's frustrating when GIs dismiss things which could have alternate explanations. As for parasites and food allergies - it might be an intollerance instead of an allergy or a parasite which is not included in the parasite tests?
Posted 5/26/2010 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi MyUC - I know I have often had a high white count, but I've never been told anything about eosinophiles. So... sorry, I can't really be of help.
This disease is so frustrating in and many ways it affects each of us. Just as we all respond to different treatments or supplements, we all are affected differently by the disease, it seems.....
Posted 5/26/2010 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
No worries about the lack of people relating to this concept of high eosinophils associated with UC.  I really appreciate the effort though.  I was told it's not common but it has popped up in a few research articles.  The eosinophils were accumulating in the colonic tissue over the years.  They are basically involved in finding things in the body that shouldn't be there, ie allergies, cancer, parasites.  I tested negative for all 3 more than once.  Eventually it was my immune's response to my diseased colon.  It was saying why do have this colon here in the first place.  It's all good now I guess.  As we all know it helps when others have been through it, but still thanks for trying.  I love this forum!

MyUC

Posted 5/26/2010 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
This post prompted me to look at the copies of blood test results I have in my file... nope, never had a high eosinophil count. I've consistently had low neutrophils. Still don't know why, but my doctor doesn't seem concerned beyond saying let's look at it every once in a while.
Posted 8/4/2011 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I know this is old but I just did a search because I just got bloodwork done by my GI last week and my Absolute Eosinophils came back slightly high at .60 K/uL. Normal range is 0-.5. My doctor's letter with the results says this is within an "acceptable" range, but I have a call in to his office to see what this might mean, if anything.
Posted 8/4/2011 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
PS - my WBC was normal, and so were all my other tests (creatinine, hemoglobin, etc.)
Posted 8/4/2011 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Since I have gotten my colitis under control my eos count has hovered around 900, normal is 600 or less.  Mind you that back in the day when the colitis was out of control my eos count was around 35,000.  I now see a great GI and an immunologist who specializes who eosinophilia.  Both docs are extremely happy with my progress, both from a gi point of view and the 900 count is just considered who I am, no biggie from thier point of view.  Again it's very rare and be a manifestation fo ulcerative colitis.  This is especially prevalent among people of Asian descent who have colitis.

Thanks for sharing,

MyUC

Posted 8/5/2011 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know how to compare my numbers. My results say .6 K/uL. Anyway, glad you are doing well with it.
Posted 8/5/2011 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Sara:

I am very confident your .6 is 600.  That would be slightly high since some labs will say that a normal eos count is around 400 or less. The K/uL abbreviation refers to 1000 units so take your .6 and multiply it by 1000 hence 600.  In any event your gi doc is correct no biggie.

Again, thanks for sharing.  Very few people here have anything to post on this.

MyUC

Posted 8/5/2011 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, MyUC!
Posted 8/8/2011 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
My eos lvl was always above the reference range. I asked my doc about it being high and he said, I have nothing to worry about.

But I'm sure there has to be some kind of correlation with my IBD.
Posted 8/8/2011 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Collegestudent:

You are probably correct. There is a well known connection between eosinophil count and IBD.  Thanks for sharing.

MyUC

Posted 6/18/2014 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
I have recently been diagnosed with EoE and was diagnosed with UC in 2009. UC seems to be under control but this EoE is really bothering me now :(
Posted 11/27/2014 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter's Eosinophil has been steadily increasing for last few months. She has been having cough now for almost 2 mths

08/08/14 0.286 %
08/21/14 0.6 %
09/19/14 1.9%
11/04/14 6%
11/25/14 7.1%
Posted Yesterday 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
i once had my eos very high and i was mega scared, however fortunately they dropped down after several months. I have no idea what the reason for them being so high was. I also read that high eos are often associated with remission in ibd so that would be good news:
"The two most important roles that eosinophils play in IBD appear to be as proinflammatory and promotility agents thus producing effects such as diarrhoea, inflammation, tissue destruction, formation of fibrosis and strictures and, as recently suggested, even repair."
"Eosinophils participating in the inflammatory phase of IBD then remain activated to possibly finally contribute to the repair process, as shown by Lampinen and colleagues6 in this issue of Gut (see page 1714)."
"Finally, which inflammatory cells contribute to the repair process in IBD? Lampinen and colleagues6 showed in their article that the number of activated eosinophils was actually higher in the quiescent phase of UC than in the active phase.6 Thus it seems possible that they in some way contribute to the repair process."
Posted Yesterday 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Did you chronic cough when you had high EOS and very high ESR?
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