What laboratory result is typically seen in asthmatic patients?

In asthmatic patients, a high white blood cell (WBC) count with eosinophilia is a typical laboratory finding. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that play a key role in the inflammatory process associated with asthma, particularly in response to allergens and respiratory irritants. Elevated levels of eosinophils indicate an ongoing allergic or inflammatory response, which is a hallmark of asthma exacerbations.

In asthma, the immune system often reacts to allergens, leading to an increase in eosinophil production and recruitment to the lungs. This accumulation contributes to the airway inflammation and hyperreactivity characteristic of asthma. As a result, when a complete blood count is performed on an asthmatic patient, it is common to observe eosinophilia alongside an elevated total WBC count.

Other laboratory results, like a low WBC count or a normal WBC count, are not typically associated with asthma, as the inflammatory processes tend to increase white blood cell counts, particularly eosinophils. A high platelet count is also not a primary characteristic of asthma and can be indicative of other conditions unrelated to the disease. Thus, the presence of high WBC count with eosinophilia aligns with the pathophysiology