Summary
Introduction. Complete blood count (CBC) is an essential diagnostic tool for every primary care physician. Basophils are important cells of the immune system responsible for defense against parasitic infections and relevant in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. In the peripheral blood basophils are found in smaller quantities compared to other granulocytes, changes in basophil count detected in complete blood count are also quite rare. Nevertheless, effective and informed interpretation of cell count changes, including changes in the count of other cells, can help suspect an illness, assess disease progression, differentiate a specific condition from others, and thus significantly facilitate the diagnosis of various diseases. Knowledge of the etiological causes of basophilia and basopenia and adherence to diagnostic algorithms can lead to a smoother diagnostic and treatment process.
Aim of the study. Perform a literature analysis and present the main causes of changes in basophil count, as well as develop diagnostic algorithms to aid in differentiating various diseases causing basophilia or basopenia.
Methods. A literature review was conducted using several databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and other reliable sources, employing free-text search with relevant keywords. Forty-two studies were selected to fulfill the research objectives, without limitations based on time or a predetermined selection protocol.
Conclusions. Based on the literature analysis conducted, the developed diagnostic algorithms when encountering basophilia or basopenia in complete blood count, can assist primary care physicians in appropriately responding to each condition that alters the basophil count in peripheral blood. It is important to consider the patient's medical history and clinical examination findings when deciding to refer the patient for further tests or specialist consultations. Diagnostic algorithms encourage the selection of effective and cost-efficient methods for diagnosing the disease, evaluating disease dynamics, and planning treatment, thus reducing the harm of unnecessary tests and at the same time expediting patient diagnosis.
