Which sputum findings are associated with asthma?

Which sputum findings are associated with asthma?

• A. Curschmann's spirals and Charcot-Leyden crystals
• B. Acid-fast bacilli in sputum
• C. Pooled neutrophils in sputum
• D. Giemsa-stained parasites

Answer: (A)

Asthma involves eosinophilic airway inflammation and mucus plugging, which is reflected in sputum analysis by two classic findings. Curschmann's spirals are small mucus plugs from the bronchioles that contain shed epithelium and other inflammatory material; they signal mucus hypersecretion and plugging typical of asthma. Charcot-Leyden crystals arise from eosinophil breakdown products (eosinophil lysophospholipase) and appear as crystalline structures in sputum, highlighting the eosinophilic component of the inflammatory response common in allergic asthma. Together, these findings are strongly associated with asthma and help distinguish it from infections or neutrophil-predominant processes. By contrast, acid-fast bacilli in sputum point to tuberculosis, pooled neutrophils in sputum suggest a bacterial infection or purulent sputum, and Giemsa-stained parasites indicate a parasitic lung infection.

Asthma involves eosinophilic airway inflammation and mucus plugging, which is reflected in sputum analysis by two classic findings. Curschmann's spirals are small mucus plugs from the bronchioles that contain shed epithelium and other inflammatory material; they signal mucus hypersecretion and plugging typical of asthma. Charcot-Leyden crystals arise from eosinophil breakdown products (eosinophil lysophospholipase) and appear as crystalline structures in sputum, highlighting the eosinophilic component of the inflammatory response common in allergic asthma. Together, these findings are strongly associated with asthma and help distinguish it from infections or neutrophil-predominant processes.

By contrast, acid-fast bacilli in sputum point to tuberculosis, pooled neutrophils in sputum suggest a bacterial infection or purulent sputum, and Giemsa-stained parasites indicate a parasitic lung infection.