Eosinophilia in the pleural and peritoneal effusions.
Of 248 patients with various benign or malignant chronic diseases who presented pleural or peritoneal effusions, the authors have selected 16 cases in which the proportion of eosinophils in these fluids exceeded 5% of the total cell count. High values of eosinophilia have been observed mostly in the serous membrane fluids from patients with tuberculosis and various neoplasms. In the authors' opinion, this suggests the participation of eosinophils in the immune processes occurring in the course of these pathologic conditions, in which the lymphocytes are also involved.
D001201:Ascites / Q000473:pathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications