Eosinophil
Eosinophil: A normal type of white blood cell that has coarse granules within its cytoplasm. Eosinophils are produced in the bone marrow and migrate to tissues throughout the body. When a foreign substance enters the body, other types of white blood cells (lymphcytes and neutrophils) release substances to attract eosinophils and then release toxic substances to kill the invader. The numbers of eosinophils in blood often rise when an allergic reaction occurs. Elevated eosinophil counts are also common in some diseases, such as parasite diseases and asthma.
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Eosinophilia: An abnormally high number of eosinophils in the blood. Normally, eosinophils constitute 1 to 3% of the peripheral blood leukocytes, at a count of 350 to 650 per cubic millimeter. Eosinophilia can be categorized as mild (less than 1500 eosinophils per cubic millimeter), moderate (1500 to 5000 per cubic millimeter), or severe (more than […]
- Eosinophilic fasciitis
A disease that leads to inflammation and thickening of the skin and of the lining tissue under the skin that covers the surface of underlying tissues (fascia). In eosinophilic fasciitis, the involved fascia is inflamed with the eosinophil white blood cells. Progressive thickening occurs, and often redness, warmth, and hardness of the skin surface occur […]
- Eosinophilic meningitis
Eosinophilic meningitis: Meningitis with a high percentage of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The usual cause is the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, also known as the rat lungworm. People become infected with this parasite by ingesting its larvae in raw or insufficiently cooked snails, slugs, freshwater prawns, frogs, or […]
- EPA
EPA: 1. The Environmental Protection Agency, a US government agency. 2. Eicosapentaenoic acid, one of the principal omega-3 fatty acids.
- Ependymoma
Ependymoma: A type of brain tumor that derives from the glial cells that line the cavities within the brain’s ventricles. Because cerebrospinal fluid normally flows through these ventricles, blockage due to an ependymoma can cause buildup of fluid, pressure on the brain, and hydrocephalus.