Bain B, Seed M, Godsland I
J Clin Pathol. 1984 Feb;37(2):188-93. doi: 10.1136/jcp.37.2.188.
Total and differential white cell counts were studied in 399 women living in the same community in Britain but drawn from four different ethnic groups. The groups were white (northern European), Indian, black (African and West Indian), and Oriental. The total white cell count and absolute neutrophil count were significantly lower in the black group than in each of the other groups. The absolute monocyte count was higher in whites than in each of the other groups. Contrary to earlier reports, the absolute eosinophil count in blacks was no higher than in whites, suggesting that the high eosinophil counts previously found had an environmental rather than a genetic cause. The eosinophil count of Indians was only marginally higher than that of whites and the difference was not significant, again suggesting that high eosinophil counts previously reported had an environmental cause. No ethnic variation was found in the absolute lymphocyte count. The lower white cell count and neutrophil count found in blacks is of considerable practical importance, and blacks should not be assessed in relation to reference ranges derived for whites. Nevertheless, the eosinophil count in healthy blacks is no higher than that of whites and counts above reference ranges for whites should be considered clinically important. The differences between white cell counts of Indians and Orientals and those of whites are minor and for practical purposes they can be assessed in relation to reference ranges derived for whites.
对居住在英国同一社区的399名女性进行了全血细胞计数和白细胞分类计数研究，这些女性来自四个不同的种族群体，分别是白人（北欧人）、印度人、黑人（非洲人和西印度人）以及东方人。黑人组的全血细胞计数和绝对中性粒细胞计数显著低于其他各组。白人的绝对单核细胞计数高于其他各组。与早期报告相反，黑人的绝对嗜酸性粒细胞计数并不高于白人，这表明先前发现的高嗜酸性粒细胞计数是由环境因素而非遗传因素导致的。印度人的嗜酸性粒细胞计数仅略高于白人，且差异不显著，这再次表明先前报告的高嗜酸性粒细胞计数是由环境因素引起的。在绝对淋巴细胞计数方面未发现种族差异。黑人中较低的白细胞计数和中性粒细胞计数具有相当重要的实际意义，不应根据为白人得出的参考范围来评估黑人。然而，健康黑人的嗜酸性粒细胞计数并不高于白人，高于白人参考范围的计数应被视为具有临床重要性。印度人和东方人的白细胞计数与白人的差异较小，在实际应用中，可以根据为白人得出的参考范围来评估他们。
