A 23-year-old man comes to the physician because of intermittent history of episodic shortness of breath. The patient has no history of recent illness. He had eczema as a child. The patient has no other medical conditions and takes no medications. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination reveals scattered expiratory wheezes in both lungs. Peak expiratory flow rate is decreased from baseline. Sputum microscopy reveals eosinophilic, hexagonal, double-pointed crystals. The sputum findings in this patient are a direct result of which of the following cytokines?

Question

A 23-year-old man comes to the physician because of intermittent history of episodic shortness of breath. The patient has no history of recent illness.  He had eczema as a child.  The patient has no other medical conditions and takes no medications.  Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination reveals scattered expiratory wheezes in both lungs.  Peak expiratory flow rate is decreased from baseline.  Sputum microscopy reveals eosinophilic, hexagonal, double-pointed crystals.  The sputum findings in this patient are a direct result of which of the following cytokines?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Paroxysmal breathlessness and wheezing in a young patient that are unrelated to ingestion of aspirin, pulmonary infection, inhalation of irritants, and/or exercise should raise a strong suspicion for atopic (extrinsic) asthma. Classic sputum findings include eosinophils and Charcot-Leyden crystals. Eosinophils are recruited and activated by IL-5 secreted by T_H2 type T cells.

A 23-Year-Old Man Comes to the Physician Because of Intermittent