Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
See
ELISA.
eosinophil
A normal type of white blood cell that
has coarse granules within its cytoplasm. Eosinophils
are produced in the bone marrow and migrate to tis-
sues throughout the body. When a foreign substance
enters the body, other types of white blood cells (lym-
phcytes and neutrophils) release substances to
attract eosinophils and then release toxic substances
to kill the invader. The numbers of eosinophils in
blood often rise when an allergic reaction occurs.
Elevated eosinophil counts are also common in some
diseases, such as parasite diseases and asthma.
eosinophilia
An abnormally high number of
eosinophils in the blood. Normally, eosinophils con-
stitute 1 percent to 3 percent of the peripheral
blood leukocytes, at a count of 350 to 650 per cubic
millimeter. In areas of the world where parasite dis-
eases are common, they are the usual cause of
eosinophilia. In developed nations, eosinophilia is
enterocolitis, Crohn’s
142
06_189283 ch05.qxp 4/18/08 10:14 PM Page 142
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
http://www.allofislam.com/

---

most often due to allergy or, less often, a drug reac-
tion. Other causes of eosinophilia are numerous,
but less common. See also 
eosinophil.
eosinophilic fasciitis
A disease that leads to
inflammation and thickening of the skin and of the
lining tissue under the skin that covers the surface
of underlying tissues (fascia). In eosinophilic fasci-
itis, the involved fascia is inflamed with the
eosinophil white blood cells. Progressive thickening
occurs, and often redness, warmth, and hardness of
the skin surface occur as well. Also known as
Shulman syndrome.