Adrenaline and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia.

Injections of adrenaline produced an immediate rise in peripheral absolute eosinophil count in cases of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, but a fall or no change in other conditions with similar clinical manifestations. A similar early eosinophilic effect was noted in control guinea pigs as well as in Ascaris larvae-fed guinea pigs. The effect of adrenaline on eosinophil counts in cases of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia was not paralled by effects on total erythrocyte or leucocyte counts or on packed cell volumes. The early eosinophilic effects of adrenaline in guinea pigs was blocked by pehntolamine but no be propranalol. Adrenaline-induced changes on eosinophil counts may be used as a disgnostic test of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia.