Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Basophilic Leukocytes
Introduction
Overview
Overview
- Basophilic leukocytes are named for the ability of their cytoplasmic granules to stain with basic dyes
- Basophilic leukocytes contain and can release histamine and serotonin
- Reference range: 0.5-3.0% (least common leukocyte) [1] [2]
Differential Diagnosis
Differential Diagnosis
Increased
- Allergic diathesis
- Asthma
- Chickenpox
- Chronic inflammatory processes
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- Chronic sinusitis
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Estrogen therapy
- Following splenectomy
- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Idiopathic thrombocythemia
- Influenza
- Mastocytosis
- Osteomyelosclerosis
- Polycythemia Vera
- Radiation exposure
- Tuberculosis
- Ulcerative colitis
Decreased
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]