basophilia

Last reviewed 01/2018

Increased basophils (> 0.1 x 10^9/l) seen in:

  • viral infections
  • urticaria
  • post-splenectomy
  • myxoedema
  • ulcerative colitis
  • systemic mastocytosis
  • malignancy
  • myeloproliferative disorders:
    • chronic myeloid leukaemia
    • myelofibrosis
    • polycythaemia rubra vera
  • haemolysis

Basophilia does not characteristically occur in secondary polycythaemia.

Note that excessive basophilia in chronic myeloid leukaemia may indicate the transformation into an accelerated or 'blastic' phase.