Fibromyalgia and Eosinophilia

Several weeks ago, a hematologist explained to me that eosinophilia was often reported among those who suffered with FMS, yet I haven’t been able to find one other person who shares this affliction.  Needless to say, I’m have serious doubts about the relationship.  However, I have apparently had the condition for a couple of years and it was only recently that my doctor told me the specifics so perhaps other sufferers do have eosionphilia and just don’t know it.  Here’s some information about the condition:

There are five types of white blood cells (also called leukocytes): neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and leukocytes.  These cells are responsible for defending your body and each cell has a specific function.  Therefore, when a doctor orders blood tests to indicate which particular white cells are not in normal ranges (WBC with differential), the results can provide clues into what is causing a high or low white blood cell count.  For example, neutrophils are the cells charged with destroying bacteria and an elevated number of neutrophils circulating in the blood indicates the presence of bacteria.  Monocytes typically indicate a viral infection. 

The eosinophil’s primary function is to fight off parasites, but these cells can often be activated when no parasite is present.  This can cause some problems!  To kill parasites, the eosinophil releases a toxin that can actually harm the body and cause damage to healthy tissues.  In some people with asthma, eosinophils accumulate in the tissues of the airway and lungs, damaging these tissues and causing serious complications.  Eosinophils can accumulate in any other tissues of the body, but there is not a lot known about what damage they can cause or why they may cause damage in some people, but not in others.

Eosinophilia is the term used to describe the condition in which high numbers of eosinophils are found in either blood or body tissues.  The normal percentage of eosinophils in the blood are between 0% and 4%.  When eosinophils exceed 6%, it is referred to as eosinphilia.  Although eosinophils usually indicate parasite infection, other possible causes include: lung diseases, vasculitis, lymphomas, antibody defficiency, and some rare skin diseases.  In some cases, the cause of eosinophilia can not be determined and if cell counts exceed 15% for at least 6 months, the condition is considered hypereosinophilic syndrome.  That’s a whole other can of worms that we won’t get into here. 

Before I even knew what an eosinophil was, I told my doctor that physical activity during an episode would bring about my more profound symptoms.  To me, it seemed that when my muscles were burning energy to work, they were releasing some sort of toxin that would make me sick to my stomach, cause a severe headache, etc., etc.  He, of course, let that go in one ear and out the other.  When I started learning about eosinophilia, I almost felt vindicated!  Blood tests had shown that I had too many eosinophils and having had parasites ruled out, these cells were producing toxins that had nothing else to attack but healthy tissues.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Well, I have had two hematologists tell me that my eosinophilia is nothing to worry about! 

Let’s review… I have symptoms consistent with damage to muscles, joints, and nerves.  Blood tests have confirmed I have too many eosinophils which produce toxins known to damage healthy tissues.  Yet all of my doctors have failed to see a connection!  I’m thinking that the only way to prove a relation to these people is to have a tissue biopsy done to look for evidence of damage caused by eosinophil toxins.  Sounds simple enough, right?  WRONG!  If they don’t see a connection, they see no reason to attempt to prove one.  I’ve even asked if we could just try a medication to control the eosinophils (there are a few) and they see no reason to if the eosinophils are harmless.  The experts recommend simply treating the “underlying condition” which, in my case, has been determined to be FMS, for which there have been no effective treatments.  Feeling my frustration yet?

I’ve had elevated eosinophils for over two years now, but always staying within the “mild eosinophilia” range.  The ranges are: 6% – 15% = mild, 15% to 50% = moderate, and anything above 50% is severe.  Not only do these cells harm body tissues, but when there are too many of them being produced in the bone marrow, they start crowding out other cells.  For instance, if they crowd out red blood cells, you develope eosinophilic leukemia.  That’s a bit scary for me because in the couse of a few weeks, my count jumped from 5% to 11%.  On the other hand, they’ve been known to go from 8% to 5%.  So there are fluctuations both ways.  With my last count being at 11%, another 6% increase means a host of other complications. Shhhh……  Hear that?  Tick – Tock, Tick – Tock….

Anyway, I am dying to talk to other people who have been diagnosed with FMS who also have eosinophilia.  I’m anxious to learn if the symptoms we have are not FMS or any other illness, but signs of damage done by the eosinophils themselves.  What’s more, I want everyone diagnosed with FMS to find out if there eosinophils have ever been elevated.  Call your doctor’s office and ask if they will check all your blood labs to see.  Sometimes the eosinophils can be elevated and the over-all white count still falls within normal range, so you may not have even been told, so ask about this specifically.  I also ask that you pass this link on to everyone you know that has been diagnosed with FMS.  I’ll be reporting on how my investigation turns out.