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When the number of eosinophil granulocytes in blood increases, the cause is not always easy to disentangle. This review highlights the symptoms of rare clonal and common reactive diagnoses, how to approach the patient clinically, and how to implement the armamentarium of available tests in order to identify the correct diagnosis and offer the proper treatment. Two referral centres for eosinophilia have been established in Denmark to support this activity by a collaboration between all departments of haematology and the relevant specialities, meeting the manifestations of eosinophilia.

Webcasting is an educational activity where the teacher and the participants are separated in space and time when using modern information technology. It is widely used for all learning levels and in all educational forms of haematology training in Europe. A working group in the Education Council of internal medicine, haematology in the eastern part of Denmark initiated a project with webcasting from local haematological departments. The aim of the education project was to contribute to spreading knowledge and support the training of specialist in haematology. Our experience is hereby reported.

Polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocytosis and primary myelofibrosis are closely related, clonal myeloproliferative neoplasms. Our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms driving these diseases has increased dramatically during the latest ten years. Traditionally, treatment of these malignancies has focused on lowering their inherent thromboembolic risk but with the discovery of the JAK2-V617F mutation and most recently the calreticulin mutations new therapeutic options such as interferon-alpha, JAK2-inhibitors and statins are being contemplated. This article reviews these new treatment options.

Eosinophilia represents a complex clinical problem, the management of which is based on case history and clinical examination. Allergy, parasitic infection or inflammation may then be identified or malignancy suspected. In some cases, representing a haematologic disorder, clonality is demonstrated only by specific tests. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach, including a new classification for eosinophilia, is reviewed, and the importance of molecular biological technique is highlighted. Unexplained eosinophilia should be managed in collaboration with a haematology department.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia is characterized by an abnormal tyrosin kinase in the cytoplasm of the clonal cells. The enzyme is derived from a fusion gene on the Philadelphia-chromosome, evolved by a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22. Understanding the biology of the tyrosin kinase led to targeted therapy, inhibiting the ATP-binding site by a small molecule--imatinib (Glivec). A novel 2nd generation tyrosin kinase inhibitor--dasatinib (Sprycel)--is now available in cases of insufficient response or intolerance to imatinib.