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Causes of elevated and decreased basophils
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
Basophilia is an increase in the number of basophils in the blood (more than 0.2×10 9 /l). Diseases and conditions in which basophilia is possible include:
- allergic reactions (to food, medications, introduction of foreign protein);
- chronic myelogenous leukemia, myelofibrosis, erythremia;
- lymphogranulomatosis;
- chronic ulcerative colitis;
- hypothyroidism;
- estrogen treatment.
In addition to the above causes of basophilia, it is possible during ovulation and pregnancy. Sometimes basophilia occurs due to iron deficiency, lung cancer, anemia of unknown origin, true polycythemia, some hemolytic anemias, and also after splenectomy.
Basopenia is a decrease in the number of basophils in the blood (less than 0.01×10 9 /l). Basopenia is difficult to assess due to the low content of basophils in the norm.