Basophil and Eosinophil Counts May Give Clues in the Differential Diagnosis of Carotid Artery Disease and Vasculitis: A Comparative Study

Year 2022, Volume: 23 Issue: 1, 108 - 113, 30.03.2022

Ahmet Şair

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate if there is any difference in terms of leukocyte and platelet counts between vasculitis and cerebral thromboembolism.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the records of patients who underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography at Aydın Adnan Menderes University Hospital between January 2017 and December 2020 were recorded retrospectively. One hundred fifty-nine patients were included in this study. One hundred twentynine patients have the diagnosis carotid artery disease (CAD group) in varying degrees and 30 patients have the diagnosis of vasculitis (vasculitis group).
Results: Fifty-five (34.6%) patients were women and 104 (65.4%) were men. The median (1st quartile-3rd quartile) age was 67 (56-75). In the atherosclerosis group, 14.7% minimal occlusion (occlusion level: 20-49%), 15.5% moderate occlusion (occlusion level: 50-70%), 69.8% severe occlusion (occlusion level: 75-100%) were detected. The age is significantly higher in the CAD group than in the vasculitis group (p<0.001). Also, eosinophil (p=0.028) and basophil (p<0.001) levels were significantly higher, platelet level was significantly lower in the atherosclerosis group than in the vasculitis group. The comparison is done according to gender. There are significantly higher eosinophil (p=0.007) and basophil (p=0.006) levels in male patients with atherosclerosis than in male patients with vasculitis but not in females.
Conclusion: Compared with vasculitis cases, basophil and eosinophil levels were higher and platelet levels were lower in CAD cases. In cases with suspected CAD, higher eosinophil and basophil levels, and lower thrombocyte levels may be clues in terms of diagnosis and may guide clinicians in early diagnosis.

Keywords

Carotid artery disease , vasculitis , eosinophil , basophil

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