TOO MANY EOSINOPHILS

Scientists studying patients with severe asthma have been able to isolate a subtype called eosinophilic asthma (e-asthma).  Severe asthma patients who use rescue inhalers often, take oral steroids for asthma control, and still require emergency care may actually have e-asthma.  Eosinophils are one type of white blood cell associated with the immune system.  An allergist can request a simple blood test to be performed in order to determine the number of eosinophils that are present in the severe asthma patient’s blood.  The greater the number of eosinophils in the blood sample, the more likely the patient is to have eosinophilic asthma.  Isolating this subtype of asthma helps allergists and scientists develop better, more effective asthma treatments.

P.S.  Eosinophilic asthma usually develops in men and women between the ages of 30 and 50 who have no history of allergies.

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