INTRODUCTION: Eosinophils are increasingly recognized as active participants in thrombogenesis, yet their precise role in venous thromboembolism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between eosinophil elevation and the presence and severity of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients presenting to the emergency department
METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed with acute DVT by Doppler ultrasonography between January 2019 and December 2024 in a tertiary emergency department. Patients with malignancy, autoimmune disease, renal failure, prior venous thromboembolism, or thrombophilia were excluded. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were retrieved from electronic medical records. Eosinophilia was defined as an absolute eosinophil count (AEC) ≥ 500 cells/µL. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests.
RESULTS: A total of 283 DVT patients (mean age 56 ± 19 years; 58.3% male) were evaluated, along with 46 control patients without DVT. The median eosinophil count was higher in DVT patients than in controls (130 vs 100 cells/µL; p = 0.044). DVT predominantly involved the lower extremity (92.6%), with left-sided thrombosis in 56.9%. Patients with multiple-vein DVT had significantly higher age, leukocyte, neutrophil, and CRP levels compared to those with single-vein involvement (p < 0.05). Eosinophilia was present in 1.4% of DVT cases.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Elevated eosinophil levels may contribute to DVT pathophysiology through endothelial damage, tissue factor expression, and coagulation activation. Although eosinophilia was rare, its potential role in thrombus formation warrants further large-scale prospective studies.
Keywords: Eosinophilia, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Venous Thromboembolism, Coagulation, Thrombosis.