[Hypereosinophilia in cancer and cirrhosis : utility of total eosinophil count (author's transl)].

A total eosinophil count (TEC) and a white blood cell count (WBCC) were performed simultaneously in 213 patients. Discrepancies were found between TEC and WBCC. WBCC did not allow detection of hypereosinophilia (TEC exceeding 300 eosinophils/microliter) in 45 patients. Patients were classified in three groups : controls (n = 27), benign disease (n = 65), and apparently cured cancer (n = 36). There was no significant difference between total eosinophil counts for these three groups (Wilcoxon non-parametric test). The incidence of hypereosinophilia (TEC exceeding 300) was similar in the three groups (11%, 14% and 6%). Average TEC levels were determined in 20 patients with decompensated hepatic cirrhosis, in 31 patients with active cancer, and in 14 patients with infection. These levels were significantly different from those found in each of the three previous groups. (Wilcoxon test). The incidence of hypereosinophilia (greater than 300/microliter) was significantly higher among patients with cirrhosis (50%) or active cancer (58%). The possible mechanisms of this hypereosinophilia and it's eventual prognostic utility are considered.