Charcot-Leyden Crystals

Charcot-Leyden Crystals are thin, colorless, pointed crystals that may be present in the sputum of asthma patients.

These crystals were first described in 1853 by French doctors and scientists Jean Martin Charcot and Ernst Victor von Leyden, from whose names they received their name.

Charcot-Leyden crystals are composed of phospholipids and the protein eosinophil peroxidase. They are formed as a result of the breakdown of eosinophils - special leukocytes that play an important role in inflammatory processes in asthma and other allergic diseases.

The presence of Charcot-Leyden crystals in sputum may indicate eosinophilic inflammation of the airways, so their detection is of diagnostic value. However, these crystals are not unique to asthma and can occur in other diseases accompanied by eosinophilia.

Thus, Charcot-Leyden crystals are an important diagnostic marker of inflammatory and allergic processes in the respiratory system. Their detection helps doctors make the correct diagnosis and select effective treatment for patients.



Charcot-Leyden crystals are thin, colorless, sharp crystals that form in the sputum of certain respiratory diseases, such as asthma. They were named after the French physician Charcot and the German scientist Leiden, who described them in 1875.

Charcot-Leyden crystals are crystals of a protein called eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). These crystals form as a result of a reaction between protein and acidic components of sputum, such as mucin and mucus.

Normally, Charcot-Leyden crystals are not found in the sputum of healthy people. However, in asthma they can appear in large quantities, which may be due to an allergic reaction to allergens such as pollen or dust.

The presence of Charcot-Leyden crystals in sputum may indicate the presence of asthma and other respiratory diseases, so their detection is an important diagnostic sign. However, for an accurate diagnosis it is necessary to conduct additional studies and tests.

Treatment of asthma may include the use of inhaled corticosteroids, antihistamines, and other medications that help reduce the number of Charcot-Leyden crystals and improve the patient's condition.

It is important to note that Charcot-Leyden crystals can also appear in other diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therefore, if you notice crystals in your sputum, consult your doctor for further testing and diagnosis.



Charcot–Leiden crystals are long-lasting, colorless, crystalline clots of eosinophilic plasma that form in the wet material of pulmonary vesicles in bronchial asthma, filled with inflammatory fluid. Unfortunately, these colorless crystals have no characteristic qualities or physiological significance when looked at in isolation, but they represent the most sensitive indicator and indicator of the severity of any particular case of disease. In the case of bronchial asthma, this confirms the severity and duration of the process.